‘IT’S NOT FUNNY’: CBCP calls out Trump for portraying as pope in AI-generated photo

National

THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) expressed disappointment over US President Donald Trump, who posted on social media an artificial generated (AI)-photo portraying himself as pope.

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of CBCP, took to Facebook to air his disapproval of Trump’s pope tweet.

“The following AI-generated photo was posted by the US president himself, a few days after he attended the funeral of Pope Francis and while the Catholic world is still mourning," David said.

"With all due respect to his office and to the American people, we’d like him to know it’s not funny," he added.

Per a report by the Inquirer, former prime minister of Italy, Matteo Renzi, also criticized the image, describing it as disrespectful to Catholic believers and institutions.

“This is an image that offends believers, insults institutions and shows that the leader of the right-wing world enjoys clowning around,” he wrote on X.

In the image, Trump is seen dressed in a bishop's traditional clothing, with a cross around his neck and his index finger lifted.

The image was posted on Trump's Truth Social platform on Friday, May 5, 2025. It was reposted by the White House on X, which has garnered over 201,000 heart reactions, 50,000 retweets and 44,000 comments as of writing.

When asked by journalists what he thought about the image, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, said, "Well, it wasn't good."

He further called it a “brutta figura” which translates to “making a fool of yourself” in Italian.

In the United States, the New York State Catholic Conference said: “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.”

In defense of Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the president's pro-Catholic stance.

“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,” she said.

The image was posted as the Catholic Church concluded its nine-day mourning period and just days before the Papal conclave on May 7, when cardinals are set to gather and elect the successor of Pope Francis.(John Ryan Ledesma CTU-TC Intern)