Trump expresses desire to be pope amidst Vatican transition

In the wake of Pope Francis's death on April 21, 2025, Donald Trump expressed a humorous desire to become the next pope during a media interaction prior to the anniversary event in Michigan on May 3, 2025. Following the funeral attended by Trump and Melania Trump at the Vatican, he stated, "I'd like to be pope," suggesting it was his "number one choice." When pressed about potential candidates to head the Catholic Church, Trump admitted he had no specific preferences, but referred to Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York as a capable contender. Despite the joke, Trump's remarks drew mixed reactions on social media, where an AI-generated image of him dressed as the pope was shared by the White House, further amplifying discussions surrounding his comments. The conclave to select the next pope is set to begin on May 7, 2025, with 135 cardinals from around the world gathering to deliberate, marking a significant transition for the Catholic Church after years under Pope Francis, who was the first Jesuit and Latin American pope. Trump's remarks, along with the accompanying photo, raised eyebrows due to the rarity of a non-cardinal serving as pope; historically, only six non-cardinals have been elected. These developments highlight a moment of levity amidst the serious context of a major change in religious leadership and continue the discourse surrounding the relationship between politics and religion.