Catholic Bishops Fume, Kick Against Trump’s AI Image As Pope

The New Diplomat
Writer

Ad

Sanae Takaichi Shatters Glass Ceiling, Becomes Japan’s First Female Prime Minister

By Abiola Olawale ​Sanae Takaichi officially made history on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, by being elected as Japan's first female prime minister following a parliamentary vote. Takaichi, an ultraconservative leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secured the top post after a coalition deal with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party (Ishin no Kai). The 64-year-old…

PDP To Know Fate on Oct 31 as Court Delivers Judgment on National Convention

By Abiola Olawale The political landscape of Nigeria's main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), remains suspended in uncertainty as the Federal High Court in Abuja has set October 31 as the date for judgment in the contentious suit challenging the party’s planned national convention. ​The high-stakes ruling, which follows the conclusion of legal…

Brent Flirts With $60 as Oversupply Fears Deepen

Oil prices continued to inch lower in early Tuesday trading as concerns about oversupply and sagging demand resumed their grip on the market, even as trade-talks between the United States and China offered a glimmer of optimism. At the time of writing, WTI was down 0.52% at $57.22, while Brent had fallen 0.54% to $60.61.…

Ad

Say Action, ‘It’s Not Clever Or Funny

By Kolawole Ojebisi

The New York State Catholic Conference, has expressed its displeasure over the United States President Donald Trump’s viral AI-generated images of himself dressing as the Pope.

The NYS Catholic Conference is an organisation that represents the bishops of the state in working with government to shape laws and policies that promote social justice and respect for life.

The organisation interpreted Trump’s action as a deliberate move to make the Catholic Church the butt of jokes.

It made this known in a post on X.com on Sunday,:

“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.” the NYS Catholic Conference wrote.

The US president shared the image on his Truth Social platform where it has generated deluge of comments, sparking debate over the propriety of Trump’s action.

The digitally altered image, later reposted by the White House’s official X account, showed Trump in full papal regalia—flowing white robes, a golden crucifix, and a mitre—with one finger raised skywards.

Recall that Trump had, in the wake of Pope Francis’ passing, jokingly told reporters, “I’d like to be pope, that would be my number one choice,” when asked who he backed as the next head of the Catholic Church.

While Trump didn’t endorse any contender, he alluded to “a very good” cardinal in New York, widely believed to be Archbishop Timothy Dolan, a staunch theological conservative with a clear stance against abortion.

The US president’s statement came amid the Catholic conclave’s efforts to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21.

Ad

X whatsapp