The Catholic conference of New York accused Trump of ridicule of faith. The post appeared a few days after he joked the journalists: “I would like to be a dad.”
The Catholic conference of New York, representing the bishops of the state of New York, criticized the photograph. “There is nothing smart or funny in this image, Mr. President,” the group said.
They reminded that only recently the funeral of the pope of the Roman Francis took place, and the cardinals are going to hold a solemn conclave in order to choose a new successor to St. Peter. “Do not laugh at us,” the group called.
The former Prime Minister of Italy, adhering to left-wing views, Matteo Renzi also criticized Trump's post.
“This image offends believers, offends institutions and shows that the leader of the right world loves to play the role of a clown. Meanwhile, the American economy is at risk of recession, and the dollar is losing the cost,” Renzi wrote on the social network X.
Questa è una immagine Che Offende I Credenti, Insulta le Istituzioni E Dimostra Che Capo Della Mondiale Si Diverte a Fare il Clown. Nel Frattempo L'EConomia America Rischia La Recessione El Dollaro Perde Valore. I Sovranisti Fanno Danni, Ovunque pic.twitter.com/fwspqexdvt
– Matteo Renzi (@matteorenzi) May 3, 2025
At the same time, the White House rejected any assumptions that the US president is ridiculed by the papacy.
“President Trump flew to Italy to express his respect to Pope Francis and attend his funeral, and he was an ardent defender of Catholics and religious freedom,” said Karoline Livitt spokesman.
Context
April 29 at a briefing Trump said that I would like to become Pope. One of the journalists asked the head of the White House, who, in his opinion, will become a new pontiff. “I would like to become a dad. It would be my choice No. 1,” Trump joked.
He later noted that he had no preferences, but he remembered one American cardinal. “We have a cardinal, which is by chance from New York, and he is very good. So we will see what will happen next,” the head of the White House added. According to Politico, we are talking about Timothy Dulane, who is not included in the list of favorites in the place of the head of the Catholic Church. The publication noted that the post of Pope was never held by a US representative.
The Pope Francis died on April 21 in the Holy Martha House in the Vatican from a brain stroke, coma and irreversible cardiovascular collapse. The funeral of Pontiff took place on April 26, Trump was present at them with his wife Melania.
The conclave at the election of the new Pope will begin on May 7. Cardinals who have not reached the age of 80 can participate in it. Now this criterion is responsible for 135 out of 252 people.
