President Trump's AI-Generated papal image controversy
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| Donald Trump AI-generated image of himself |
In a confluence of unprecedented events, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the first American Pope, assuming the name Pope Leo XIV, just days after former U.S. President Donald Trump ignited controversy by sharing an AI-generated image depicting himself as the Pope on his Truth Social platform.
The Vatican formally announced on Thursday that Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, has become the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church. As a moderate figure known for his close relationship with the late Pope Francis and his extensive experience in missionary work in Peru, Pope Leo XIV steps into the role of leader of a global faith facing both renewal and intense scrutiny.
The timing of this historic election is particularly noteworthy given the recent uproar caused by Trump's AI-altered image, which showed him clad in full papal regalia. The image, posted on Saturday, quickly spread across social media, eliciting a range of reactions from amusement and confusion to outright condemnation.
The controversy surrounding the image escalated further when it was subsequently reposted by the White House's official X (formerly Twitter) account, accompanied by Trump's remark to reporters: "I'd like to be pope; that would be my number one choice." This comment was made just before the start of the conclave convened to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 after serving as the head of the Catholic Church for 12 years.
The New York State Catholic Conference swiftly and unequivocally condemned both the image and Trump's remark, issuing a statement on X that read: "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 statement reflected the deep sense of offense and disrespect felt by many within the Catholic community.
While Trump did not formally endorse any particular papal candidate, he hinted at his admiration for a "very good" cardinal in New York, widely believed to be Archbishop Timothy Dolan. However, the conclave ultimately chose Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost to lead the Church, marking a significant shift and a historic moment for the American Catholic community. The election of Pope Leo XIV amidst this backdrop of political intrigue and social media controversy underscores the complex and evolving landscape of the Catholic Church in the 21st century.