The move, which many call bizarre, provocative and perfectly timed for maximum stir, were lines between satire, self-service and holy again blurred-this time on the Prague Vatican.
Just a few days after Pope Francis’s festive funeral leader United World in Mourning began to cook an online-out-of-politics or politics, but the image of the generated AI so bold that it left millions thought: was it a badly conceived joke, without taste or something much more?
When President Donald Trump published a terribly realistic picture dressed in full papal regalia – complemented by decorative robes, a golden throne and a festive finger of blessings – the digital world exploded by outrage, confusion and a fair dose of morbid fascination.
Only eleven days after the death of Pope Francis at Easter on Monday, former US President Donald Trump set fire to a fire controversy by sharing bizarre, ai -generated image of himself dressed in full papal regalia.
Digital depiction has shown that Trump is sitting on a rich golden throne, wearing traditional creamy mowing and raising his hand in a fake blessing-reminiscent of how the Pope could appear during a public blessing. The photo, which appeared without the headline, was sent to his instagram page and its platform, Truth Social.
The timing and content of the contribution shocked people across political and religious communities. Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88, was laid to rest on a widely visited funeral ceremony on St. Petra 26 April. This event was attracted by the mourning from around the world, including Trump and the first lady of Melania, who set out to be a highly profiled appearance between the Dignatietaitaries and the leaders who gathered to pay respect.
He seemed to disappear from his presence at the solemn event as he shared an unbelievable picture, whether he shared an incredible painting. The will was fast, loud and relentless.
Social media exploded with criticism. “I can’t believe it’s real,” one instagram user wrote. “I never expect Trump a big tact, but that’s absolutely scary. The new minimum, even for him.” Others accused the former president of using a sacred moment for cheap laughter or viral attention. “That’s immensely disrespectful,” another user said. “The man is not even a Catholic, and yet he ridicules the most worshiped institution in Catholicism with an unusual AI meme? Is it shameful.”
Among the loudest critics were practicing Catholics, who considered the image deeply offensive. “Please take it off,” one user begged. “As a Catholic, I consider it a serious insult to the Church and the legacy of Pope Francis. It’s not a satire – it’s a sacrament.” The international commentator dealt with, “I’m not even an American, and yet I’m horrified by how disrespectful it is millions of Catholics around the world.”
Words like a “blasphemy”, “grotesque”, “disrespectful” and “unhinged” flooded the sections of the comments under the post. Even long -term fans of Trump seemed to be shaken. One wrote, “I voted for you but honestly I can’t defend it.” Another commented, “It’s not just a joke – it’s a national embarrassment.”
Yet not everyone was outraged. The contingent of Loyalists Trump gathered for his defense and called the post “Veselý” and “classic Trump”. “The funniest president in history!” One enthusiastic supporter said. Others added: “That’s why the device is worried about you, so we love you.”
However, the inflammatory post did not come completely from the left field. Just a few days before he picked up the picture, Trump joked with reporters in front of the White House and said he wanted to be considered a papacy. “If I had to choose a dream job, I would say the Pope. That would be number one,” he joked.
It seemed that a note that could pass as a discarded line in various circumstances pretended to be a sensation of AI. The Internet was not missing. “So now we have a convicted former president who thinks he should lead the Catholic Church?” One user mocked. Another one added, “Let me guess – he thinks he would be the best Pope of all time. Better than all the Pope before him.”
Trump: “I’d like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice.” pic.twitter.com/VHB5VPdoV9
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 29, 2025
Another user of the social media pointed to the absurdity of Trump’s fantasy: “Do he even know that even the voice college of cardinals?
Worse, Trump’s behavior on the funeral service has already caused criticism. The observers noted that he broke from tradition by wore a blue suit instead of the usual black and seemed to chew rubber – a violation of decorum, which did not notice the Vatican observers and critics.
From now on, preparations for the Vatican Conclave are underway, which will start on May 7, inside the Sistin Chapel. More than 100 cardinals from around the world will meet in secret and select other leaders of the Roman Catholic Church.
While technically anyone who meets the requirements – is a man, unmarried, more than 35, Catholic and educated in theology or canonic law – could theoretically be chosen by the Pope, the idea that Trump was even mentioned in the same sentence.
Yet, if Trump’s fantasy contribution AI is a hint, he already imagines in the routs of the Pope – no matter what Catholics, Cardinals or common sense could say.
Following the passage of Pope Francis, the unexpected and controversial events of former President Donald Trump trumpeted a hard public debate that overcame political lines and aroused deep emotions in religious communities. While his painting generated by AI dressed as a Pope could entertain some of his oldest followers, for many-especially Catholics-a nerve and arrived at a moment of serious sadness and respect.
The commotion emphasizes not only the permanent cultural and spiritual significance of the papacy, but also the constantly blurring border between the satire, self -transaction and holiness in digital age.
When the Vatican is preparing to verify the new leader under the sacred tradition, Trump’s theater serves as a significant reminder of how public personalities can control technology to provoke, polarize and in some cases overshadowed even the most sacred global moments.