Trump and Pope Faceoff vs. Dolan in Legal Dispute

VATICAN CITY: Amidst blessings, selfies, and laughter, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a key figure in conservative circles, disavows the mogul who adorned himself as a pope. With a dismissive wave and a blunt comment, he voices disapproval. "It wasn't right, I hope it had nothing to do with this. He shouldn't have done it. As they say in Italy, it was a stupid move." The tone suggests a simmering tension within the Republican community, yet the rebuke is firm.

According to Dolan's associates, the sitting President, in a White House snapshot transformed into a pontiff by artificial intelligence and circulated on Truth Social, has made an awkward and inappropriate gesture. The irony lies in the fact that the Archbishop of New York, a long-time Trump ally, blessed his inauguration as POTUS. They've maintained a friendship, with Trump openly supporting Dolan within Vatican walls.

However, it is possible that the New York State Bishop's Conference, after consulting Dolan regarding his mission in Rome, published a stern rebuke: "There's nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We've just laid our beloved Pope Francis to rest, and the cardinals are about to enter a somber Conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Don't mock us."

The New York cardinal, the center of attention during the social pre-Conclave, conducting mass at the Roman church of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Monte Mario, in the parish where he was titled upon Benedict XVI's appointment to the Sacred College, continues a tradition for cardinals before a conclave. The sky overhead is gloomy with clouds threatening rain, but people still gather in Rome's north to catch a glimpse of the cardinal who will be one of the leaders in the Sistine. Some consider him a kingmaker, others a potential pope. "Me, pope? I just want to be the Archbishop of New York!", he insists with a broad grin. So, after Francis, crowds of pilgrims, Americans, and Romans alike gather to greet him, asking, "The next pope, I hope he's like Jesus." Dolan has been viewed as the lead opponent of the Argentine papacy for twelve years. Could there be a Francis II? "Let's hope so. The characteristics I'd hope for in the next pope are first of all a smile, always a smile on his face, and then humility, simplicity. Francis was good, but we're specifically looking for a Jesus."

Dolan deems this a fortunate historical time, "because we could even combine the characteristics of the last popes: Francis, Benedict XVI with his intellectual depth, and John Paul II with his courage and call to follow Christ. If we can combine these great characteristics, it will be a blessing." He remains tight-lipped about his voting choice: "I haven't made a decision yet. I need to think about it." Will two days of general congregations be enough to enter the Sistine on Wednesday with clear ideas? "It's sufficient."

He's at ease among the crowd. He shakes hands, jokes, and empathizes with everyone. He blesses children. At one point, a sick woman clings to him in tears, and he embraces her without pause, offering his blessing. He's affectionate with boys and adults, priests, religious, nuns, American countrymen. And he poses for countless selfies. He speaks to us with empathy and self-deprecation: "In the United States, we say: I speak spaghetti Italian."

He delivered a brief, humorous homily, skipping preaching excessively. "I remember Pope Francis and I loved him very much. And he often said to us priests: you shouldn't preach too much. So, that's enough! Thank you!". Then, as the collection was being prepared, addressing the parish priest and referring to the American community present in the church, he joked: "Father Gianfranco I hope the Americans also give something!".

On the sidelines of the Celebration, he turned serious about "the week that is opening, it's very important, I asked for prayers in the homily because we really need them, I feel it, it's something tangible. You can actually feel the prayers of people around the world, and before we parted ways yesterday (the day before, ndr) with the Dean of Cardinals, Re, he told us, make sure people pray for us". Now the cardinals are "still getting to know each other, but it's working. My experience from the previous Conclave in 2013 helps me a lot, I'm more relaxed this time, I was more tense before, maybe I'm a bit older".

Now his name is among those being circulated, for his charm and popularity. Certainly, Dolan is a leader of the traditionalists. Some within the Vatican interpret Dolan's comments regarding "The Tycoon-pope" as "a strategic move". A clergyman argues: with this College of Cardinals, planetary in scope, comprised of numerous cardinals hailing from remote countries and the "global south", being viewed as pro-Trump - even linked to Trump - can be a significant liability. Entering the Sistine Chapel identified as Trump's ally can pose a slippery slope, and the offensive image of the President-pope may have ruffled even the feathers of some cardinals in Dolan's own circles. Now the Archbishop of New York, after disassociating himself from that photoshopped image, can perhaps be considered more politically independent.

Insights

The Meme: Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself in the traditional vestments of the Pope on his social media platform, Truth Social. This image sparked controversy, coming just days after Trump expressed a joking interest in becoming the next Pope[1][4].
Cardinal Dolan's Response: Cardinal Dolan's criticism of the image reflects the broader Catholic leadership's discomfort with it. His comments emphasize the importance of respecting religious institutions and their leaders, especially during significant events like the conclave to elect a new Pope[1][4].
Political Implications: The episode may have political implications for Trump, as it has led to criticism from some of his traditional supporters within the Catholic community. However, some supporters like Joshua Mercer of CatholicVote defended the image as a joke, suggesting it was not intended to offend[1][4].

The controversial meme circulating online, featuring Donald Trump as a pope, has raised concerns within the Catholic community, as demonstrated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan's firm rebuke.
Political analysts suggest that the backlash against the meme could potentially impact Trump's relationship with his traditional supporters within the Catholic community, particularly conservative figures like Cardinal Dolan.