Trump’s Playful Pope Picture Sparks Interest Ahead of Conclave
WASHINGTON: On Friday, former President Donald Trump shared a lighthearted image of himself dressed as the pope on his Truth Social platform. This playful gesture followed his recent jest to reporters expressing a desire to become the next leader of the Catholic Church.
The image, seemingly created by AI, showcases Trump wearing traditional papal attire, complete with white robes, a gold crucifix, and a miter hat, while his right index finger points skyward.
Just days before a conclave of cardinals is set to convene to choose a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, Trump remarked, “I’d like to be pope, that would be my number one choice.” He also mentioned that he didn’t have a specific candidate in mind but noted a particular cardinal from New York that he thought highly of.
Many believe he was referring to Archbishop Timothy Dolan, known for his conservative views and strong stance against abortion. Last week, Trump attended Pope Francis’ funeral, marking his first overseas trip since regaining political prominence.
In the U.S., around 20 percent of the population identifies as Catholic, with exit polls in November showing that approximately 60 percent of Catholic voters supported Trump during the election.
Pope Francis has often been critical of Trump, particularly regarding his proposal to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. In 2016, the pope famously stated, “Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian.”
As the cardinals prepare for their gathering on May 7 at the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, the eyes of many will be on who will emerge as the next pontiff.
