All eyes are on the election of a new Bishop of Rome (AKA “The Pope”) in the Eternal City this week. In his inimitable way, Donald Trump managed to catch that news cycle wave this weekend by posting to his social media accounts (and then having the White House X account repost) an AI-generated image of himself in papal regalia and giving a blessing.
The resulting furor about a supposed mockery of or attack on the Catholic Church was, as it most often is with Trump controversies, much more than much ado about nothing. American Catholics and Christians of all stripes should stop falling for these pseudo-controversies and keep their eye on the real attacks on their ability to serve God in freedom and peace.
No doubt the inspiration here seems to have been pretty ordinary. Trump joked last week that he would like to be pope. No doubt somebody said: “Hey, wouldn’t it be funny if Trump were pope? What would that look like? Oh, hey, let’s create an AI picture.” Trump saw it and found it funny, and voila!
Humor is, like beauty, in the eye (or ear) of the beholder. Some people found the AI “Pope Trump” image hilarious. Others thought it was “cringe” or not very funny. This writer (who is Catholic) thought it funny in the same way lots of internet jokes are funny—especially AI memes. It elicited a chuckle, and I moved on.
Probably much funnier than the Pope Trump image was an image of Marco Rubio as pope. The joke here is that the Secretary of State has been a jack of all trades in this administration, taking on multiple positions. He might as well be pope, too!
There was no surprise that people on the left would attempt to use this episode as an opportunity to attack Trump. Mother Jones, taking a break from its normal Christian-bashing content, harrumphed that “a quick look at Trump’s biography shows he does not belong amongst the most revered figures of Catholicism.” That piece was just one of many from reliably liberal outlets to attempt to drive a wedge between Trump and his Catholic and Christian supporters.
But, sometimes unwisely, some Catholic figures and organizations also jumped in to claim a grievance about this harmless meme.
In an interview, Bishop Robert Barron of Winona, Minnesota, handled it fairly well. “I think it was a bad joke that obviously landed very poorly and was seen as offensive by a lot of Catholics,” he told EWTN News, “and I wish he hadn’t done it.”
One might disagree, but his statement at least left it in the realm of a criticism of the image as a joke. The bishop clarified that he thought sharing the image did not represent any “disdain for the Catholic Church or an attack on the Catholic Church” and added that President Trump has “signaled in all sorts of ways his support for and affection for the Catholic Church.”
This was a sensible and measured response. Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, (or whoever runs his social media accounts), meanwhile, took a different approach. He posted a two-part response claiming not only that the image was “deeply offensive to Catholics” and required an “apology,” but that it was offensive because, “By publishing a picture of himself masquerading as the Pope, President Trump mocks God, the Catholic Church, and the Papacy.”
While this writer has great respect for Bishop Paprocki (as for Bishop Barron), this is frankly an overheated response. “Wouldn’t it be funny if I were pope?” is simply a lighthearted joke.
Just as overheated was the New York State Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the Catholic bishops, which posted on X: “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.”
What can explain this overreaction? Perhaps it is overly pious and humorless Catholics working for Bishop Paprocki and the New York Catholic Conference. Or perhaps, as sometimes happens in the local Catholic conferences, it is hardcore Democrats looking to score political points in the name of the Church.
If the problem is humorless and defensive Catholics, I recommend for both Bishop Paprocki’s staff and the Catholic Conference a reading of G.K. Chesterton, who famously wrote, “It is the test of a good religion whether you can joke about it.” If the problem is overly politicized staff, perhaps there needs to be a re-evaluation of who is best suited for those roles, because this kind of politicization is unwise when there are very real attacks on the Catholic Church going on right now.
For instance, neither Bishop Paprocki’s nor the New York State Catholic Conference’s X accounts mentioned—and still have not mentioned—the attack on Catholics that happened on Friday, May 2, in Washington State. Democrat Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5375, which makes all clergy mandatory reporters in abuse cases.
This would not be controversial, except for the fact that the law contains no exception, as similar laws in other states do, for information gained in the Catholic confessional. This “seal of the confessional” is taken so seriously that, as a United States Catholic Conference of Bishops explainer says, “The penalty for a priest who directly violates the seal of confession is excommunication.”
With such an attack on a basic and long-recognized right and duty of Catholic priests, you might think this would be the thing to talk about rather than a silly joke.
Nor have those Catholic leaders been so offended about the “Pope Trump” image mentioned in Colorado HB 25-1312, which effectively criminalizes Christian teachings on gender and sexuality.
Whatever happens with the Catholics mentioned and others around the country, there are two things the Trump administration can do to demonstrate what Bishop Barron identified—his support and affection for the Catholic Church and other Christians. The first is to speak out and offer support to Catholics in Washington State and Colorado being attacked by the Democratic governments there.
The second is to jump to another topic of concern. In the midst of the kerfuffle this weekend, J. D. Flynn, editor of The Pillar, an international news outlet, posted, “While everyone debates Trump’s AI pope pic, please recall that many priests serving in American parishes are on the verge of being forced to leave the US, because of Biden-era changes to the religious worker visa program.” The Pillar detailed this problem in March in an article. And Flynn added in his post, “The Trump administration has not yet addressed it.”
Catholics and other Christians need to keep their heads when controversies arise. The claims about a malicious attack in this case were a mere fiction. And the Trump administration ought to continue its past practice of leading on defending vigorously ordinary Americans whose ability to worship and serve God in peace is really being threatened.
David P. Deavel teaches at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. A past Lincoln Fellow at the Claremont Institute, he is a Senior Contributor at The Imaginative Conservative. Follow him on X (Twitter) @davidpdeavel.
Whatever the case, the Roman Catholic church is at a crossroads: either elect a Pope who will adhere to the Word of God and follow its content or elect another that will continue to split the Church and follow the road to ruin with other false religions.
Trump’s photo as Pope was both “clever and funny.” If you don’t get Trump’s humor by now, you never will. I would agree it may have been in poor taste, but for many, the Pope is nobody special. He’s just a man…he’s not God or our intercessor to God. He’s human and a sinner deserving of hell just like everybody else….but God, through his love and mercy, offered his Son Jesus as payment for our sin. So let’s not elevate the Pope to a position that he can’t be poked at or made fun of…..the Bible says we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and for certain the Catholic denomination has had more than its share of moments of “poor judgement
One of the reporters asked Trump if he would like to be Pope. That is what started all of this. It was a stupid question and the response, in Typical Trump fashion was to make fun of it.
I find it funny (sardonic wise) that the widely circulated cartoon showing Biden approaching the papal conclave with his hand out and one of the Cardinals saying something like, “Thank you for your application but we’re looking for a real Catholic” wasn’t panned by the “faithful”…but then Joe’s a Dimocrat and, as such, could do no wrong.
Come on people, can’t you take a joke? Don’t be so hyper sensitive. That’s one of the things wrong with the world today, no body can laugh at themselves or anything anymore.
It would be potentially more offensive, except that the Pope allowed American politicians (not the rest of the congregation) to accept communion even though they blatantly endorse abortion. It’s kind of hard to take a Pope seriously that, for political purposes, allows such an insult to traditional Catholic teachings
To all Catholics, from a former Catholic. I hope your next Pope is a man of much better character that actually respects God’s Word. I doubt he will be.
Come quickly Lord Jesus. I can’t stand it down here in this evil world much longer.
The thing is, President Trump DID NOT do the meme, so how can he be blamed for it? As usual, the media and the Democrats jump on it like fleas on a dog. Someone else made it, he just found it funny, just like the one of him as a Jedi. Get over yourselves, anyone who found this to not be funny. President Trump is not the enemy of religion. Democrats are.
No offense meant to my Catholic friends, but there have been many popes who did NOT deserve to be “revered.” Politics are involved in the choice; why else did Benedict quickly disappear? Also not to be revered was moving molester-priests from parish to parish and buying silence. And “revered” Francis pushing for recognition of gay marriages cannot be found in The Bible [our true Guidebook].
Great article! My wife and I are cradle catholics. We have lived under numerous popes. Pope John Paul II, in our opinion was the best pope we have had in our life. Pope Francis was way too political and was a socialist by political standards. My wife and I are staunch Pro Life. Biden & Pelosi should have been excommunicated from the church for their stance on abortion, but Pope Francis would not do anything. It is a disgrace! Rumors have been swirling, and some have suggested another socialist Pope. We need a Pope that cares for the people but at the same time stays within church, not politics around the world.
I did not hear any one going against Biden, who was a supposed Catholic, when he was for gender affirming care and abortion. Where were you then?
The progressive left found another way to bring Trump down. Only it backfired. Personally I think it was in very poor taste. I am not Catholic was not impressed with the last pope. Popes through the ages have been meddling in world politics. And Francis was one of the worst. This hoax again showed the division in this country. Satan was at work again. It was not funny it just perpetuated the left has no respect for the office of president. They put a demented puppet in the White House and called him brilliant. We have a brilliant president in Donald J Trump and they call him stupid, a failure. This was just another attempt to destroy him and again the country showed the division they created didn’t grow bigger because Trump took it with a laugh. They don’t understand Trump and they never will.
I am Catholic and I was not the least bit offended.I love President Trump.
The author quoted a few Catholic bishops, but conveniently left out comments from Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Cardinal Dolan, endorsed by Trump to be the next pope, said the image “wasn’t good” and it made a bad impression. Say what you want about Senate Bill 5375 in Washington state, but the Catholic Church doesn’t have a very good track record at protecting children from sexual abuse.
We all need to be more respectful of one another.
anyone should realize it was a bad joke but other have taken it wrong and made another attack on trump I doubt he made and pot up the picture of him as Pope. Someone wabnting tostir up trouble did that let the joke die
The Left has no sense of humor. Democrats don’t even want one.
Catholism stance that the only road to salvation is thru the Catholic church insults other denominations, among other things. If you can’t stand the heat, don’t fire up the kitchen.
“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.” First, Peter NEVER went to Rome; Paul did. Second, as a Christian, we are NOT to be reverence a man (who is sinful from birth) as we reverence Christ. The “Pope” is NOT Christ! He is a man just like any other man! As a former Catholic, I have to say that this is much ado about nothing! The picture was a joke that many found funny (Catholics, Protestants, etc.). So, get over yourselves and move on!
Seriously folks, Pope Francis has to be the least “beloved” Pontiff in recent history!
Everybody just needs to chill out!
I grew up in the Catholic faith and as a seeker of truth became aware of the many unspoken stories of the past “ sins” of the leadership in the Catholic church. President Trump’s history wouldn’t even hold a candle to it. I agree with the author of the article. Move on. The meme was not meant to be disrespectful.
For Pete’s sake, lighten up! As the song says, the joy of the Lord is your strength.
It’s obvious that many of the bishops and other supposed Catholics would rather support abortionists. The absolute hypocrisy astounds me, the Catholic church needs to rid itself of the left wingers who support so-called social justice. Get a sense of humor, pray you could have someone like Trump leading the church.
It may be tasteless but no more offensive than what Pope Francis stood for, he certainly was not a saint.
I am a Catholic. So, I have immunity on spreading Catholic jokes. The effort of Donald Trump came after an AI generated picture. As much as he likes a good joke, he couldn’t let it go.
I see no problem with it. He was pictured with no disrespect shown. My problem is with our bishops and priests who have worked to turn Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition into a joke. All popes are entitled to their opinions. Believe it or not, non-Catholics, we do not have to go along with him.
He believes in global warming, fine. Just don’t expect the rest of us to buy into it. My view is that the pope is the Vicar of Christ here on earth and he should stick to trying to unify the Church on spiritual matters, not secular.
Am I saying saving our planet does not rise to the level of spiritual duty? For the most part, yes. We should be good stewards for all our planets gifts. But we do not control any of it. God, the Holy Father, the Holiest of Holys, has a plan that was perfected even before man and woman took their first breaths. Even before the primordial ooze and the big bang slipped in.
God’s teachings operate to get as many of us sinners as possible to receive him and repent from our evil ways. All the people of the world giving up real food, gas stoves, and incandescent lights will not get even one person into heaven.
One pope, a priest, a nun, a few lay people, ten or twenty preachers, etc., and a population of caring, loving, unselfish people, might bring in more of us lost sheep to the sound of salvation. Yet we are all sinners so we must not judge. We must lovingly educate.
This pope showed his disdain over and over for Donald Trump. Yet Donald Trump stopped the former administration’s efforts to target Christians, especially Catholics. That president was supposedly Catholic! Donald Trump embraced Israel against a group whose very existence is for the purpose of destroying Israel.
Islam is a lie. It is not a religion. It never speaks of love in the Qur’an. Believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is blasphemy. Believing the Trinity is blasphemy. These all come from the Qur’an, verbatim. Yet this pope condemned Trump and Israel just for protecting Israel’s citizenry. Hamas could launch missiles from inside hospitals and schools which somehow gave them protection in the eyes of the pope.
We are called to “love the sinner but hate the sin.” After all, we are all sinners. But Scripture, Old and New Testament prohibits us from engaging in fellowship with those “actively and openly” committing sin. There are many such sins named in scripture. Probably the most controversial is homosexuality. It is condemned in the Old and New Testaments alike. Yet the pope comes up with an anti-Christian instruction to recognize homosexual unions and offer more inclusion in the Church. Scripture offers no such possibility. A non-practicing homosexual may join us in spiritual love and acceptance, but we must not allow his depravity to touch Mother Church if he is actively living that lifestyle.
In fairness, the New Testament list homosexuality, murder, drunkenness, boy prostitutes, etc., as those type sins. If following scripture and tradition causes 99% of Catholics to fall away, so be it. God controls the church, and Jesus Christ died for us. To make a mockery of his death by accepting the humanistic, immoral views of others could very well put us on the same path as the Babylonians, early Romans and Greeks, and many more.
Let us pray for an earthly leader. A Godly man who knows his place in the Church. Living by the example of Christ in his heart. One of the enclave members, a possible next pope, was asked if he felt sodomy should be regarded as a sin. He never gave a definitive answer. Why? Holy Scripture does. If there is something wrong with scripture concerning this stuff, I wish they would tell us. But as long a the Word of God speaks the written text, let’s follow it.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body the church. He is the beginning, the first firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross [through him] whether those on earth or those in heaven.” Colossians 1: 15-19.
I am Catholic and I thought it was funny….and then I thought “This will wind ’em up!” and I was right…I’ve never seen so much faux outrage….well….at least not since the last thing Trump said or posted! I would be willing to bet that almost *everyone* that voiced their scorn and outrage is not even the least bit religious, except when it affords them the opportunity to stick their foot up Trump’s rear …..
I’ve discovered, over the past few decades, that the folks who make up the progressive socialist left have absolutely no sense of humor. Along with that, they appear to be the unhappiest people on this great Earth. They evidently get up in the morning and before they even take their first sip of coffee, they’re searching the internet for something new by which to be offended. In a good many instances, they are too lazy to actually search for the truth regarding any topic, they just latch on to whatever the MSM is claiming and run with it and the MSM always takes their cue from the so-called leaders of the progressive left. Occasionally, the come across something/someone who really freaks them out even more than usual and they carp, harp, scream,, shout, moan and get their panties in a wad and spend their time claiming that the world is coming to an end due to that something/something. For the last decade, the “go-to” guy, the supplier of their angst, has been Donald J. Trump, whom they have allowed to live, rent free, in their psyches since 2015. And the funniest thing about them is–throughout all these years, they’ve never been able to recognize that, with all their moaning and groaning, they are making themselves look like fools.
The irony of all this discussion is that the American bishops in general could not muster a unified response to the run amuck former president Biden and Nancy Pelosi (ardent Catholics) champions of the abortion movements. Silence is acceptance.
Liberal leftists and socialists who proclaim to be Catholics are not true Christians. They don’t worship the Lord Jesus Christ but they worship the devil. We have a lot of those so called Catholics in the Democrat party.
I am a devote Roman Catholic and I don’t see any disrespect in the joke, but as usual the Democrats will take advantage of it, distort it to fit their narrative to divide us. Only evil people turns jokes into something bad…..because they always have malicious intent & are evil .
Where were Trump’s advisors? However harmless the intention, this was a terrible decision on his part to put this picture out there. I am a 100% Trump supporter but I would have told him that would never be a good idea at any time.
Some say Trump’s posting the Papal regalia would generate a lot of negative PR.
Well,, many years ago a wise politician told me “there is no such thing as bad PR”.
Heh, guess he was right!
The papacy is a heresy in itself. Christ is the one and ONLY mediator between man and the Father.
Too bad in the year 2000 the new Pope Robert Francis Prevost allowed known child sex abuser James Ray to reside at the St. John Stone Friary in Chicago.
Good job, Catholics. Your new guy is a pedophile protector.
Forcing Catholicism on non-catholics is depraved, despicable, and disgusting.
the Jesuits are the biggest problem.
Sorry but RCC deviated from Christianity many centuries ago. The result was the persecution and murder of true Christians, and the adoption of demonic doctrines, including the papcy itself..
Well, I like President Trump and voted for him three times, but I thought it was pretty tasteless.
vote for a REAL CATHOLIC as pope
Watch the movie “Conclave”
Why do you think Trump was kidding. He is not some clown for your amusement. Have somr respect. He wants to be pope because he would be the best one ever.
AMAC! You need to know that Catholics are the ORIGINAL Christians, so when your headline said “Catholics acd Christians” that is completely inaccurate.