The New York State Catholic Conference has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump for posting an AI-generated image depicting himself dressed as the Pope.
The organisation, which represents the state’s Catholic bishops in engaging government on matters of law and social justice, expressed outrage over the post.
In a statement shared Saturday on X, the Catholic Conference wrote: “There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President.
“We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St Peter. Do not mock us.”
THERE IS NOTHING CLEVER OR FUNNY ABOUT THIS IMAGE, MR. PRESIDENT. WE JUST BURIED OUR BELOVED POPE FRANCIS AND THE CARDINALS ARE ABOUT TO ENTER A SOLEMN CONCLAVE TO ELECT A NEW SUCCESSOR OF ST. PETER. DO NOT MOCK US. HTTPS://T.CO/ORTXBKDLT5
— NYS Catholic Conference (@NYSCatholicConf) May 3, 2025
The controversial image, which appeared on Trump’s Truth Social platform and was later reposted by the White House’s official X account, shows him in elaborate papal attire — flowing white robes, a golden crucifix, and a mitre — with one finger raised toward the sky.
The digitally altered photo sparked a mix of amusement, disbelief, and heated debate across social media platforms.
The post came just days after Trump told reporters, apparently in jest, “I’d like to be pope, that would be my number one choice,” when asked whom he would support as the next pontiff.
His remark came shortly before the start of the papal conclave convened to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21.
Trump was present at Pope Francis’ funeral last week, marking his first international appearance since returning to public office.
The death of a pope and election of another is a matter of utmost solemnity for Catholics, for whom the pope is Christ’s vicar on Earth. That is all the more true in Italy, where the papacy is held in high esteem even by nonreligious Italians.
The image featuring Trump in a white cassock and pointed miter, or bishop’s hat, was the topic of several questions during the Vatican’s daily conclave briefing Saturday. Italian and Spanish news reports lamented its poor taste and said it was offensive, given that the period of official mourning is still underway.
The post caused considerable outrage online.
When asked to respond to the criticism, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that, “President Trump flew to Italy to pay his respects for Pope Francis and attend his funeral, and he has been a staunch champion for Catholics and religious liberty.”
Trump most recently visited the Vatican last Saturday, in what was his first foreign trip during his second term, in order to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.
Shortly before the funeral began, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss further steps towards ending the war with Russia, as well as a minerals pact that was later signed between the US and Ukraine.
Whilst speaking to reporters last Tuesday, Trump joked that he himself would be his “number one choice”, before adding “I must say we have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York who’s very good.”
Trump was referring to New York Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, one of 10 US cardinals who will be voting in the conclave.
Trump’s pitch might have cost Dolan support, however, as the reason conclaves are held in secrecy, with cardinals sequestered for the duration, in order to prevent outside secular power from influencing their choice.
