Irish American Catholic organization calls on Trump to apologize for AI Pope image

The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), the oldest and largest Irish Catholic organization in the US, is calling upon US President Donald Trump to apologize for sharing an AI image depicting himself as the Pope.

Trump shared the AI image on social media on Saturday, May 2, just a few days after he told a reporter that he'd "like to be Pope," adding, "that would be my number one choice."

The Catholic Church is currently without a Pope following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Trump was among those who attended the Pope's funeral on April 26. The conclave to select the next Pope begins on Wednesday.

Donald Trump shared this AI image depicting himself as the Pope on social media on May 2.

In a statement issued the day after Trump shared the AI image, Sean Pender, National President of the AOH, said the AOH "strongly objects to President Donald J. Trump’s recent offensive social media post depicting himself in papal vestments, seated on the Chair of St. Peter, via an AI-generated image."

Pender continued: "Releasing this during the sacred period of mourning for Pope Francis is not only grossly inappropriate, it is a blatant affront to Catholics and an attack on their belief in the sanctity of the Papacy.

"That the President of the United States would digitally insert himself into the role of the Vicar of Christ while millions of faithful mourn a pope who embodied humility, compassion, and quiet strength is behavior beneath the dignity of the U.S. Presidency.

"We would expect this kind of juvenile humor from the Cartoon Network, not the Oval Office.

"We remind the President that the United States has a long and shameful history of anti-Catholicism, from the Know Nothings to the Ku Klux Klan. We should not be enhancing the defamatory images of Thomas Nast with 21st-century technology."

Pender continued: "This incident comes amid a troubling climate for American Catholics, who have endured a surge in attacks on churches and sacred spaces—over 400 incidents in the past year alone—and were subject to FBI surveillance in their places of worship.

"At a time when Catholics feel increasingly under cultural, physical, and institutional attack, the last thing they need is to see their sacred beliefs defamed and exploited for political theater.

"We note and commend that this administration has been vocal in condemning antisemitism. We doubt the White House would ever publish an AI-generated image of the President dressed as an Orthodox Rabbi at the Wailing Wall. Catholics and their faith deserve the same respect.

"As Catholics, we are called to believe in the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of ignorance. However, forgiveness begins with sincere confession and repentance. As the largest Irish Catholic organization in America, the Ancient Order of Hibernians calls on President Trump to issue a direct and unqualified apology to the Catholic community."