Just one week after Pope Francis’s funeral, U.S. President Donald Trump sparked controversy by sharing an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself as pope on his social media platform, Truth Social. Though Trump is not Catholic, the image showed him wearing a white papal mitre and a large crucifix. Previously, Trump had joked to reporters that being pope would be his “number one choice,” adding humorously that there was a “very good” cardinal in New York, though he had no particular favorite for the next pontiff. Meanwhile, the Catholic Church’s cardinals were convening at the Vatican to elect Francis’s successor after his funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica.
The funeral drew world leaders and thousands of mourners. Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at age 88, had devoted his life to God and the Church. However, Trump’s AI image drew sharp criticism online. Many called it disrespectful, especially as Catholics worldwide mourned the pope’s passing. Comments on social media called Trump’s post “mocking” and “classless,” with many urging him to take it down, saying it insulted a sacred institution and offended believers.
Adding to the controversy, Trump attended the pope’s funeral in a mid-blue suit and glittering blue tie, which violated the Vatican’s strict dress code requiring men to wear dark suits and black ties. Melania Trump, by contrast, wore a conservative black coat and lace veil. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were also criticized for similar breaches of dress protocol. Interestingly, Trump and Zelensky had their first personal meeting since an earlier White House dispute, an encounter some called Pope Francis’s “last miracle.” After their talks, Trump sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin over attacks on Ukraine, signaling a shift in his stance. Meanwhile, Vatican cardinals prepared to enter the Sistine Chapel for the secret conclave to elect the next pope.
