An AI-generated image depicting President Donald Trump dressed as the pope has sparked criticism from some Catholics after it was posted on social media just days before the papal conclave to choose the next pontiff begins in Rome. The image, shared on Trump’s social media and the official White House account Friday evening, shows the president clad in papal garments, seated on a throne. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, was questioned about the image by reporters after a church service in Rome on Sunday. Dolan responded by using the Italian phrase "brutta figura, " indicating the post was embarrassing. “I hope he didn’t have anything to do with it, ” Dolan said. “It wasn’t good. As Italians say, it was brutta figura (embarrassing). ” The New York State Catholic Conference also expressed outrage over the image, stating, “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 to St. Peter. Do not mock us, ” the conference wrote on X Saturday. Father James Martin, a papal contributor for ABC, remarked on “This Week” Sunday that “people were surprised by it and thought it was incredibly poor taste, but here in Rome, more people are focused on the next pope than the current president. ” Catholic Vice President JD Vance denied that the post was offensive. When conservative commentator Bill Kristol tweeted on X, “Hey, @JDVance, you fine with this disrespect and mocking of the Holy Father?” Vance replied, “As a general rule, I'm fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen. ” When asked to address the criticism, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump “flew to Italy to pay his respects for Pope Francis and attend his funeral, and he has been a staunch champion for Catholics and religious liberty, ” according to The Associated Press. The Vatican announced the process to elect the next pope will begin on Wednesday, May 7. ABC News' Camilla Alcini contributed to this report.