Trump posts AI image of himself as Pope amid Vatican's search for new pontiff

The post was met with a wide range of reactions-from some who found it funny to others who said it was offensive.

Townhall columnist Dustan Grage dismissed critics, saying that most of those he saw complaining about the post were atheists and that their opinions didn't matter.

"Memes depicting Trump as Christ have been and always will be called out as blasphemy. The Pope picture is actually funny. Calm down, folks," Grage wrote.

Meanwhile, Democratic activist and influencer Harry Sisson accused "MAGA" of electing a "man-child."

Vatican Spokesman Matteo Bruni declined to comment, but the New York State Catholic Conference accused Trump of mockery.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump has shown respect to the Vatican. 

"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," Leavitt said.

"I'd like to be pope. That'd be my number one choice," Trump said, before clarifying that he was joking and naming a possible option - Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

Trump, who was raised as a Presbyterian, has said he now considers himself a nondenominational Christian.

The Catholic Church's cardinals, including Dolan, are set to gather at the Vatican for the conclave on May 7, when they will vote for the next pope. However, unlike secular elections, candidates for pope focus on prayer and reflection rather than campaigning.

"Last time in 2013, when we had the opening prayer-because prayer is extraordinarily important-we had a reflection given by a wonderful Franciscan preacher," Dolan told Martha MacCallum on "The Story." "He said, 'Eminences, you're all scared because you have a tough job to elect the next pope. ... Let me put your mind at ease. It's easy. The Holy Spirit has already chosen the next pope. Your job is to find out who it is'." 

Contenders to replace Pope Francis include Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State; Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle; Cardinal Peter Erdo; Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu; Cardinal Raymond Burke; and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi.