President Donald Trump published an apparently improved photo of himself represented as the Pope on Truth Social Friday Night and triggered duel and praise on social networks.
Nowsweek contacted the Vatican by email on Friday evening to comment.
The context
The death of Pope Francis on April 21 marked a period of mourning for millions of Catholics around the world. Francis died of complications related to a stroke, followed by a coma and an irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.
His funeral took place on Saturday in Saint-Pierre square in front of the heads of state, including the president and the first lady Melania Trump, the clergy and the general public. Francis’ body was buried in St. Mary Major, one of the four papal basilicas in Rome.
Francis’ leadership in the Catholic Church has sparked a distinguished change, mainly with its opinions on the LGBTQ +community.
What to know
The president published the photo at 10:29 p.m. Friday, without legend or comment. The message immediately obtained a positive and negative reaction online.
Terrance K. Williams actor Posted on XFormerly Twitter, Friday evening, “Pope Trump … Lol our president has just published him. He drags because he knows that the media will turn around. I actually love the sound of King Trump, the first of his name.”
Melanie d’Arigo, executive director of the New York health campaign and former candidate for the Democrat Congress, also published on X Friday eveningBy saying: “The guy who broke the 10 commandments published photos of himself cospissal like the next Pope.”
We asked Trump this week that he would like to see Francis succeed as a new pope. “I would like to be a pope,” he joked.
Continuing, he added by talking to journalists on Wednesday: “It would be my number one choice. No, I don’t know, I have no preference. … I must say that we have a cardinal [Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York since 2009] It happens to be out of a place called New York, which is very good.
“So we will see what’s going on.”
Speculations have mounted who could be the next pope, because the Paris Ribs and the chatting on social networks have swirled. According to Bookmakers and Vatican analysts, a handful of potential candidates are likely.
Marco Rubio, Trump’s Secretary of State and also his interim national security advisor, also took the next pope of an interview Thursday with Sean Hannity from Fox News.
Rubio partly said“You don’t need to be a priest. Anyone – people don’t know it. Any single Catholic man can be a pope, but I’m getting married and I’m married, so I’m going to miss this one.”
Vice-president JD Vance joked for the first time on Pope Rubio, Publication on X On Thursday, “I think he could take a little more. If only there was a work of employment for a devout Catholic …”
What people say
The republican senator Lindsey Graham de Caroline du Sud posted on X Tuesday: “I was delighted to learn that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next pope. It would really be a black horse candidate, but I would ask the Papal Conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind on this possibility! The first combination of the president of Pope-US has many advantages.
Friday, the Republicans against Trump X: “Donald Trump has just published a photo of himself as a pope. It is a full madness at this stage.”
Maga Voice X account Friday: “Holy Sh * t 🚨 Donald Trump surprises the world by publishing a photo of itself like the next Pope 🔥 Donald Trump would be one of the best popes to live 🙏”
Art Candee, artist based in Chicago and frequent critic of Trump, published on X Friday: “Donald Trump is now publishing images of IA cosplaying like the Pope. Bro is not in the head.”
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, historian and political commentator, posted on X Friday: “Cult alert from the authoritarian leader”
What happens next
The conclave process to select the next Pope begins on Wednesday.
