Vatican Silent as Trump Papal Image Controversy Grows

Vatican officials have maintained diplomatic silence amid growing controversy over President Donald Trump’s posting of an AI-generated image depicting himself as pope. The digitally altered image, shared on Trump’s Truth Social platform and later reposted by the official White House X account, has sparked outrage among Catholic leaders in the United States during the solemn period following Pope Francis’s death.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni declined to comment on the matter during a scheduled briefing with journalists about the upcoming conclave process, carefully maintaining institutional distance from the political controversy. The Vatican’s restraint comes despite sharp criticism from U.S. Catholic leaders and widespread coverage in Italian media, where the papal image has been characterized as disrespectful during a time of mourning.

Italian Media Reacts While Vatican Holds Back

While the Vatican has refrained from official comment, Italian newspaper La Repubblica described Trump’s post as “infantile” and accused the president of “pathological megalomania,” according to CNN. The AI image, showing Trump dressed in white papal vestments and headdress, has received extensive coverage in Italian media due to the Vatican’s central importance in the country.

The office of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has generally maintained good relations with Trump, has also declined to comment on the controversy. This diplomatic restraint reflects the complex relationship between political leaders and Vatican affairs, particularly during the sensitive period of transition following a pope’s death.

American tourists visiting St. Peter’s Square offered reactions ranging from “absurd” to “typical” when questioned by journalists, though none wanted to be identified by name. The controversy has added an unexpected political dimension to what is normally a purely religious process as the church prepares for the conclave to elect Francis’s successor.

U.S. Catholic Leaders Voice Strong Objections

In stark contrast to the Vatican’s official silence, American Catholic leaders have issued pointed criticism of the president’s post. The New York State Catholic Conference stated: “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.”

Even Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, who has maintained generally cordial relations with Trump, expressed disapproval when questioned about the image on Sunday. “It wasn’t good,” Cardinal Dolan told reporters, adding that he hoped Trump “didn’t have anything to do with” the post, according to Reuters.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois delivered one of the strongest rebukes, stating that by publishing the image, “Trump mocks God, the Catholic Church, and the Papacy.” Paprocki explicitly called for an apology, saying “President Trump owes an apology to Catholics and all people of good will,” as reported by NPR.

White House Defends Presidential Post

The White House has not removed the image or issued a formal apology, instead emphasizing Trump’s broader relationship with religious communities. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to criticism by stating: “President Trump flew to Italy to pay his respects for Pope Francis and attend his funeral, and he has been a staunch champion for Catholics and religious liberty,” according to the Associated Press.

Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, appeared to downplay the controversy on social media. “As a general rule, I’m fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen,” Vance wrote on Saturday, seemingly dismissing concerns about religious offense.

Trump allies have defended the post as harmless humor rather than intentional disrespect. Jack Posobiec, a conservative influencer who recently participated in a Catholic prayer event at Trump’s Florida resort, wrote: “I’m Catholic. We’ve all been making jokes about the upcoming Pope selection all week. It’s called a sense of humor.”

Controversial Timing During Religious Transition

The timing of the image has particularly offended many Catholics, as it appeared during the church’s traditional nine-day mourning period following Pope Francis’s death on April 21. Trump had attended the pontiff’s funeral at St. Peter’s Square on April 26, joining other world leaders in paying respects.

Catholic cardinals are scheduled to begin the conclave to elect Francis’s successor on May 7, making the controversy especially sensitive during this period of solemn religious transition. The PBS News organization noted that “The death of a pope and election of another is a matter of utmost solemnity for Catholics, for whom the pope is Christ’s vicar on Earth.”

The controversial image emerged just days after Trump joked about his own papal ambitions. When asked by reporters on April 30 who he would like to see elected as the next pope, Trump responded: “I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice,” before clarifying that he was not serious, according to TIME.

History of Tensions Between Trump and Francis

The controversy occurs against a backdrop of past tensions between Trump and Pope Francis during the president’s previous term. Francis had notably criticized Trump’s immigration policies, stating that mass deportation efforts damage “the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families.”

Francis also famously suggested that Trump’s border wall plans were “not Christian,” creating diplomatic tension between the White House and Vatican. Despite these differences, Trump observed diplomatic protocol by attending Francis’s funeral and meeting with other world leaders during the Vatican visit.

The use of AI-generated imagery continues a pattern in Trump’s official communications. In February, both his personal account and White House social media posted an AI image depicting the president wearing a crown, celebrating his intervention against congestion pricing policies in New York City, according to Reuters.