It is no longer news that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the new pope.
Days before he was announced as the new Catholic pontiff, American President Donald Trump posted spoof picture of himself dressed as the pope on his Truth Social platform after joking that he would like to be the next Catholic pontiff.
The joke was not well received, especially that the Church was about to start the election of a new leader.
In the picture he shared, Trump is seen in what appears to be an AI-generated color image, with his right index finger pointed toward the sky, wearing papal regalia, including white robes, a gold crucifix pendant and the miter hat.
Asked who he would like to succeed Pope Francis, Trump said: “I’d like to be pope, that would be my number one choice.”
Trump went on to say that he did not have a preference but said there was a cardinal in New York who was “very good.”
He appeared to be referring to the archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, a theological conservative and fiercely opposed to abortion.
Many Catholics criticised Trump for posting the picture.
The New York State Catholic Conference, which says it represents bishops of the state in working with the government, voiced sharp criticism of the picture.
“There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President,” it wrote in a post on X.
“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.”
Trump attended the funeral service of Pope Francis last week, his first foreign trip since returning to power.
About 20 percent of Americans declare themselves Catholic, and exit polls indicated in November that they voted around 60 percent in favor of Trump.
Pope Francis had arguably been one of the most powerful moral voices on the world stage critical of Trump.
When Trump first ran for president in 2016, Francis was unsparing on his signature promise to build a border wall to seal off Mexico.
Francis told reporters: “Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian.”
Cardinals will gather on May 7 in a conclave in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope.
* Agency Report