As the world closely watches the Vatican’s next move following the death of Pope Francis, a light-hearted remark by U.S. President Donald Trump has stirred both amusement and curiosity online.
On Wednesday, April 30, Trump quipped that he would like to become the next pope, adding an unexpected moment of levity to the solemn backdrop of global mourning.
“I’d like to be pope. That would be my No. 1 choice,” Trump said when asked by reporters about his preference for the next leader of the Catholic Church.
The comment came as the president was departing for Michigan, where he was scheduled to attend a rally marking the 100th day of his second term in office. Though Trump emphasized he had no clear favorite for the position, he did acknowledge a prominent American cleric.
“No, I don’t know, I have no preference, guys. I might say we have a Cardinal who happens to be out of a place called New York who is very good. So we’ll see what happens,” he added, referring to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York.
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Internet reacts with humor to Trump’s papal remark
Unsurprisingly, the internet lit up with reactions to Trump’s unexpected papal ambitions. The video clip quickly went viral, sparking a flurry of memes, jokes, and satirical takes across social media platforms. While some criticized the statement as inappropriate, many others viewed it as typical Trumpian bravado.
Vatican prepares for conclave after Pope Francis’ death
Pope Francis passed away on April 21 at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke. Following tradition, the Catholic Church has entered a nine-day mourning period known as the novendiali, during which prayers and memorial services are held in honor of the deceased pontiff.
Once this period concludes, the Vatican will begin preparations for the conclave — the sacred process by which a new pope is elected. Of the 252 current cardinals, only 138 are under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote. The electors will convene in the Sistine Chapel in Rome for a series of secret ballots.
Ballots are burned after each voting round in a special furnace, producing black or white smoke. Black smoke signifies that no decision has been reached, while white smoke signals the election of a new pope.
Key contenders to watch in the race for the papacy
Though the outcome of the conclave remains uncertain, several prominent figures have emerged as likely contenders to succeed Pope Francis:
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin – Vatican Secretary of State and a central figure in the Church’s diplomatic affairs
- Cardinal Peter Erdo – A Hungarian prelate known for promoting dialogue with Orthodox Christians
- Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa – Patriarch of Jerusalem, noted for his outreach efforts in conflict zones like Gaza
- Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo – President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar
- Cardinal Mario Grech – A key influence in the Church’s synodal reforms and canonical affairs
- Cardinal Luis Tagle – Nicknamed the “Asian Francis” for his pastoral charisma and theological alignment with Pope Francis
- Cardinal Matteo Zuppi – President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference and a strong advocate for social justice
- Cardinal Anders Arborelius – The first cardinal from Scandinavia, respected for his ecumenical work
- Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix – Metropolitan Archbishop of Quebec, known for his focus on evangelization
As the conclave nears, global attention is now firmly on Rome, where the Church’s future spiritual leader will soon be chosen, just not, despite his musings, from the White House.
