Catholics criticize Trump after he posts image of himself as pope

An AI-generated image depicting Trump as pope didn't sit well with a group of Catholics, who took to social media over the weekend to condemn the portrayal.

WASHINGTON — Days before cardinals are set to gather for the papal conclave to select the next head of the Catholic Church, President Donald Trump posted a seemingly AI-generated image depicting himself as pope.

The image, posted on Friday and amplified by the White House, didn’t sit well with a group of Catholics, who took to social media over the weekend to condemn the portrayal.

“There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President,” said the X account for the New York State Catholic Conference, which represents bishops in the state who work on public policy initiatives.

President Donald Trump meets Pope Francis in Vatican City on May 24, 2017.Mondadori via Getty Images“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,” the post continued. “Do not mock us.”

The image, which appears to have been generated by artificial intelligence, depicts the president in white Catholic regalia, similar to what Francis and his predecessors wore. In the picture, the president also wore a large cross necklace and sat on a chair with golden accents.