The image, shared Friday evening on Truth Social, then republished by the White House on its Official X account, aroused controversy on social networks and to the Vatican, still in official mourning of nine days following the death of François on April 21. Catholic cardinals celebrate masses daily in his memory and must open the conclave for the election of his successor on Wednesday.
The death of a pope and the election of another are absolutely solemnity for Catholics, for whom the pope is the vicar of Christ on earth. This is all the more true in Italy, where the papacy is held in high esteem, even by non -religious Italians.
The image representing Donald Trump in white and sharp miter aroused several questions during the daily press briefing of the Vatican Conclave on Saturday. The Italian and Spanish media deplored his bad taste and qualified her as offensive, while the official mourning period is still in progress.
President Donald Trump shared an image, generated by artificial intelligence, in the Pope’s clothes. (Screenshot/social truth)
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni refused to comment.
In the United States, the Catholic Conference of New York State, which represents the government’s bishops to the government, accused President Trump of Mockery.
“There is nothing intelligent or funny in this image, Mr. President,” they wrote. We have just built our dear Pope Francis and the cardinals are preparing to enter into a solemn conclave to elect a new successor from Saint Peter. Don’t make fun of us. “
-The left -wing Italian newspaper The Republic also published the image on his home page on Saturday, accompanied by a comment accusing Donald Trump of “pathological megalomania”.
The White House did not immediately answer questions concerning the negative reactions aroused by the image or the reasons why the president had shared it.
This episode occurs after President Trump joked last week on his interest in the vacant position. “I would like to be pope. It would be my first choice, “the president the president three times married, who is not Catholic, to journalists.
Vice-President JD Vance, Catholic and one of the last foreign officials to have met François before the Pope’s death, also joked the accession of the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to the Pontifical Throne, suggesting that he could add this title to his long list of titles, including national security advisor and interim archivist.
In addition to his own candidacy, Donald Trump also promoted Cardinal Timothy Dolan, New York archbishop.
“I have no preference. I must say that we have a cardinal who is in New York and who is very competent. We’ll see what’s going on, ”he said.
Timothy Dolan, 75, is one of the ten American cardinals who will vote during the conclave, but Donald Trump’s proposal could have cost Cardinal support.
