Posted on 05/03/2025 12:40:41 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as pope as the mourning of Pope Francis continues and just days before the conclave to elect his successor is set to begin. Trump’s action drew rebukes from a group representing Catholic bishops in New York and among Italians.
The image, shared Friday night on Trump’s Truth Social site and later reposted by the White House on its official X account, raised eyebrows on social media and at the Vatican, which is still in the period of nine days of official mourning following Francis’ death on April 21. Catholic cardinals have been celebrating daily Masses in his memory and are due to open the conclave to elect his successor on Wednesday.
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.
Left-leaning former Premier Matteo Renzi said the image was shameful. “This is an image that offends believers, insults institutions and shows that the leader of the right-wing world enjoys clowning around,” Renzi wrote on X. “Meanwhile, the U.S. economy risks recession and the dollar loses value. The sovereignists are doing damage, everywhere.”
The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, declined to comment.
In the United States, the New...
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LOL Jill “The Swill” Colvin LOL, ApePee’s finest propagandist.
Notice how Ape Pee didn’t post a link to the offending image because it was on Truth Social?
Trollin’ Trump.
He’s an expert!
AP(e)
Trumpp would have made a far better pope than the talking mule who occupied the Vatican stable.
That miter looks pretty good on him.
He was simply explaining the new AF1 decor to be “modern papal”.
I love Trump as president but I personally find this childish. Oh well, Donald Trump is going to Donald Trump.
“”shows that the leader of the right-wing world enjoys clowning around””
Yeah - AND?
I am Catholic and was not offended. It seems that a lot of the clergy are suffering from TDS. Just like the now dead pope. Can’t wait to replace him.
Thirteen years of Catholic school here, and I think it’s hilarious.
Looks great. Always the optimist. But maybe just a little teeny bit of modesty while the office is still yet to be decided?
Smiles smiles.
(The Church sure could wind up with worse…)
Hopefully the new pope will be opposite of the old one who was a Social Engineer who didn’t care about salvation.
Hey AP Leftists:
IT’S A FREAKING JOKE!
Now back to your regularly-scheduled whining.
Trump did not get where he is by being "modest."
A "modest" person would never have the courage to take on the globalist tyranny.
Trump didn’t create it. Feel better now?
Winning!
It is having fun with Trump, not so much the Papacy. This is more like a realistically done political cartoon. I was more offended when that huge mural of Francis as Superman went up shortly after the conclave. Francis seemed to like it. (BTW, I would have disliked it if it waas ANY Pope, because depicting a Pope as a comic book character does mock the papacy).
I’m offended by real clergy who dress in garish “pride” outfits and espouse heretical doctrines.
MCGA!
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