Catholics denounced an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated image of President Donald Trump dressed as the pope, calling it offensive and disrespectful as they continue to mourn the death of Pope Francis.
Newsweek has reached out to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Holy See Press for comment via email on Saturday.
Why It Matters
Trump’s social media post comes during Novemdiales, the nine-day period of official mourning observed by the Catholic Church following the death of a pope. Daily masses and prayers are being held through May 4 in honor of Francis who died on Easter Monday aged 88.
His funeral on April 26 in St. Peter’s Square brought together heads of state, including Trump, religious leaders from around the world, and the general public. His body was laid to rest in St. Mary Major, one of the four papal basilicas in Rome.
Trump’s post also comes just days after the president, who is not Catholic, jokingly told reporters that he would “like to be pope,” saying “that would be my number one choice.” Trump has also vowed to make American “more religious.”
What To Know
On Friday evening, Trump posted an AI-photo of himself in a white cassock and a Mitre hat with a large gold cross around his neck. The White House’s official X, formerly Twitter, account republished the photo on Saturday.
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