In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the first American pope, assuming the name Pope Leo XIV. The announcement came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump drew criticism for sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope on his Truth Social platform.
The Vatican confirmed on Thursday that Prevost, a moderate with deep missionary experience in Peru and close ties to the late Pope Francis, becomes the 267th pontiff. His election comes at a pivotal time for the Church, marked by both introspection and global transformation.
The AI image posted by Trump over the weekend — depicting him in full papal regalia — sparked widespread amusement, confusion, and backlash. It was later reposted by the official White House account on X, alongside Trump’s quip to reporters: “I’d like to be pope; that would be my number one choice.”
The remark, made shortly before the papal conclave began following Pope Francis’s death on April 21, drew strong criticism from Catholic leaders. The New York State Catholic Conference posted a stern response 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. Do not mock us.”
While Trump stopped short of publicly endorsing any papal candidate, he did express admiration for a “very good” cardinal in New York — widely interpreted as a nod to Archbishop Timothy Dolan.
Pope Leo XIV’s election marks a significant chapter in Church history, ushering in a new era of American leadership at the helm of a global faith.
