The Catholic Bishops of New York have strongly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump after he shared an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the Pope, calling it “disrespectful” and “mocking” during a sacred time for the Catholic Church.
In a firm statement issued via their official X (formerly Twitter) account, the bishops 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.”
Trump, who posted the AI image on his platform, Truth Social, on Saturday morning, captioned it in his usual tongue-in-cheek fashion. The image quickly gained traction, receiving over 12,000 reactions and even getting reshared by the White House’s X account.
The timing of the post added to the controversy, as it came just days after the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, following a long illness. The Vatican is set to begin the conclave on May 7, with 135 cardinal electors under the age of 80 gathering to choose the next Pontiff.
Further fueling outrage, Trump had recently joked to reporters, saying, “I would like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice.” His comments, mixed with the AI post, have drawn sharp criticism from Catholics worldwide, especially amid the mourning and spiritual reflection surrounding the Pope’s death.
Donald Trump Sets Internet Ablaze with AI-Generated Image of Himself as the Next Pope