WASHINGTON – A US bishop has publicly called on President Donald Trump to apologise for sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the next pope.
The image was posted on Trump’s Truth Social account on Saturday, a week after he attended the funeral of Pope Francis, according to German news agency dpa. It was also shared by the official White House account on X.
“This is deeply offensive to Catholics, especially during this sacred time that we are still mourning the death of Pope Francis,” said Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Illinois in a post on X.
“By publishing a picture of himself masquerading as the Pope, President Trump mocks God, the Catholic Church, and the Papacy.”
The AI-generated image depicts Trump in traditional papal attire: a white cassock, an ornate mitre, and a gold chain with a cross around his neck.
Trump had previously joked that he would be his “number one” choice for the next pope.
The Catholic Church is currently preparing to elect a new pontiff, with the conclave of eligible cardinals set to begin on Wednesday.
The Vatican has yet to issue an official response to the image. — May 5, 2025