Former U.S. President Donald Trump sparked headlines with a humorous remark suggesting he’d like to be pope, while also casually endorsing a New York cardinal. The statement came during an ongoing period of reflection within the Catholic Church after the death of Pope Francis.
Trump Makes Lighthearted Remark About Becoming Pope
During an interaction with reporters on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump made a lighthearted comment about becoming the next pope. “I’d like to be pope,” Trump joked, while acknowledging the unlikelihood of such a scenario.
Papacy Speculation Amid Leadership Transition
The Catholic Church is currently in a transition phase following the death of Pope Francis earlier this month. The conclave to elect the next pope is scheduled to begin on May 7. The global religious community is closely observing the process to see who will be chosen as the new spiritual leader.
Trump’s Endorsement: A Cardinal from New York
While Trump denied having a strong preference regarding the next pope, he noted that “a cardinal from New York” could be a good option. He did not mention Cardinal Timothy Dolan by name, but his remarks were widely interpreted as a reference to him. Cardinal Dolan, however, is not currently seen as a frontrunner in Vatican discussions.
U.S. Pope Still Unlikely
No American has ever been elected pope in the history of the Catholic Church. Analysts and church observers believe that the next pontiff will likely come from Europe, Latin America, or Africa, continuing traditional selection patterns within the Church hierarchy.
Public Reactions and Church Response
The comment drew mixed reactions from the public. While some viewed it as humorous and typical of Trump’s media style, others expressed concern about injecting politics into religious matters. The Vatican has not issued any official response to Trump’s comments.
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