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LetMyPeopleVote

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43. Maddow Blog-Many Catholic leaders weren't amused by Trump's 'joke' about becoming pope
Mon May 5, 2025, 05:35 PM
May 2025

When the president isn't using faith as a sword against his perceived political foes, he’s using it as a punch line to an unnecessary joke.

"The Italian newspaper La Repubblica featured the image on its homepage, alongside commentary accusing Trump of 'pathological megalomania'..."

www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

Rachel Maddow (@maddow.msnbc.com) 2025-05-05T19:27:35.070Z

"The Italian newspaper La Repubblica featured the image on its homepage, alongside commentary accusing Trump of 'pathological megalomania'..."


https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/many-catholic-leaders-werent-amused-trumps-joke-becoming-pope-rcna204788

The comments raised a few eyebrows and generated a weird tweet from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, but the story quickly faded.

That is, until Trump and the White House started leaning into the joke. The New York Times reported:

He took the joke a step further on Saturday, sharing on social media what appeared to be an A.I.-generated photo of himself wearing the traditional vestments of the pope. The photo depicts him in a white cassock with a cross around his neck, his face solemn as he raises a pointed finger. The origins of the photo were not immediately clear, and Mr. Trump did not include any commentary in his post. He shared the image on Truth Social, Instagram and X, and the White House reposted it on its official Instagram and X accounts.


Just so we’re all clear, Trump isn’t Catholic. Even if he were, there is no scenario in which he’d be considered for a leadership position at the Vatican. Given the circumstances, this is a deeply strange attempt at humor, which hasn’t been well received among many in the church.

There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President,” the New York State Catholic Conference said in an online statement. “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.”.....

Meanwhile, James Martin, a Jesuit priest who is editor-at-large for the Jesuit publication America Magazine, added that “even though I find this deeply offensive, I will presume that Mr. Trump meant this light-heartedly.” Martin went on to note, however, “But imagine the incandescent outrage, the swift condemnation, and the individual and joint protests from the US bishops if this had been done by Joe Biden or Barack Obama.”.....

Either way, Trump occasionally likes to present himself as leading some kind of religious revival in the United States, but the fact remains that when he’s not using faith as a sword against his perceived political foes, he’s using it as a punch line to an unnecessary joke.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

This will be interesting. The Bishops will multigraincracker May 2025 #1
Dolan will bend the knee. Jakes Progress May 2025 #29
An AI image of Cardinal Dolan (L) being tempted by trump. Marcuse May 2025 #40
TSF may have delusions about being the Pope of MAGA, no_hypocrisy May 2025 #2
According to the Washington Post exit polls, Catholics voted for Trump by a margin of 56%to 41%. Permanut May 2025 #3
Can someone do an AI of Trump as Napoleon? Aussie105 May 2025 #4
Somebody did that after he started quoting him BumRushDaShow May 2025 #9
I object to the word "joked". The orange creature is incapable of making niyad May 2025 #5
Excellent point! A joke, more generally, his idea of something funny would be something that... littlemissmartypants May 2025 #7
Trump sounds like he has serious delusions Linda ladeewolf May 2025 #23
I agree, except to point out he has already slightlv May 2025 #36
always strange, what offends them and what does not Skittles May 2025 #6
St. UPID Historic NY May 2025 #8
Brilliant! wolfie001 May 2025 #12
Bet it doesn't turn Catholics against him, though. Scrivener7 May 2025 #10
I hope every Catholic in the world sees this. yardwork May 2025 #11
Has this bloated pig said anything on the subject? wolfie001 May 2025 #13
But they will still vote Republican because of abortion. Botany May 2025 #14
Ironic, because the number of Trump-coerced abortions is likely not zero Orrex May 2025 #24
They own this. Old Crank May 2025 #15
Thanks for stating this. It is strictly forbidden you know. twodogsbarking May 2025 #16
Unfortunately for me Old Crank May 2025 #22
"Thou shall not lie" is a disqualifier for his papal ambitions - along with the other nine of course. Firestorm49 May 2025 #17
Why? The 2 most prominent American Cardinals are massive liars themselves and they will be part of the conclave. Wiz Imp May 2025 #28
Yeah, that's irrelevant. ShazzieB May 2025 #34
I agree. Just wanted to point out there are definitely Cardinals in the conclave he don't give a damn about Wiz Imp May 2025 #39
Yeah, I hear you on all of that. ShazzieB May 2025 #42
He just submarined Cardinal Dolan's chances of being Pope.. JohnnyRingo May 2025 #18
U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops supported G. W. Bush in 2004. John1956PA May 2025 #19
Of course, he was "only joking". He's always "only joking" when caught in blasphemy, felony and treason. HE'S THE JOKER. usonian May 2025 #20
Delusions of Grandeur Kid Berwyn May 2025 #21
Does Trump realize that 6 of the 9 SCOTUS Justices are Catholic? Bluetus May 2025 #25
He sure has a knack for insulting everybody. Diamond_Dog May 2025 #26
That makes Mar-A-Lago a Papal resort. Is this a tax exempt scheme? bucolic_frolic May 2025 #27
'Do not mock us': Trump scolded by Catholic bishops over AI pope picture LetMyPeopleVote May 2025 #30
The bishops happily encouraged their flocks to vote for Trump Deminpenn May 2025 #31
SAY IT, DEMIN!!! Montauk6 May 2025 #35
saw an updated version of Pope Dope DoBW May 2025 #32
That is rolling around on social media BumRushDaShow May 2025 #33
That's more like it. Cha May 2025 #38
Yeah, & the Unholiness Turd Reich was there Sleeping & Cha May 2025 #37
Hey Daily Beast! Bozvotros May 2025 #41
Maddow Blog-Many Catholic leaders weren't amused by Trump's 'joke' about becoming pope LetMyPeopleVote May 2025 #43
He's now denying he had anything to do with it! BumRushDaShow May 2025 #44
This mocking of Pope Francis PROVES that Trump and his right-wingers have NO EMPATHY. raging moderate May 2025 #45
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