US President Donald Trump posted a spoof picture of himself dressed as the pope on his Truth Social platform after joking that he would like to be the next Catholic pontiff.
Trump is seen in what appears to be an AI-generated colour image, with his right index finger pointed toward the sky, wearing papal regalia, including white robes, a gold crucifix pendant and the mitre hat.
It comes after Trump joked to reporters this week that he would like to be the next pope, just days before cardinals are due to start the conclave to elect the successor to Pope Francis, who died on 21 April.
Asked who he would like to succeed Pope Francis, Trump said: "I'd like to be pope, that would be my number one choice."
Trump went on to say that he did not have a preference but said there was a cardinal in New York who was "very good".
He appeared to be referring to the archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, a theological conservative who is fiercely opposed to abortion.
The New York State Catholic Conference, which says it represents bishops of the state in working with the government, voiced sharp criticism of the picture.
"There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President," it wrote in a post on X.
"We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us."
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni declined to comment on the image during a briefing with journalists.
Former Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi wrote on X: "This is an image that offends believers, insults institutions and shows that the leader of the global right enjoys being a clown. In the meantime, the American economy risks recession and the dollar loses value."
Trump attended the funeral service of Pope Francis last week, his first foreign trip since returning to power.
About 20 per cent of Americans declare themselves Catholic, and exit polls indicated in November that they voted around 60 per cent in favour of Trump.
Pope Francis had arguably been one of the most powerful moral voices on the world stage critical of Trump.
When Trump first ran for president in 2016, Francis was unsparing on Trump's signature promise to build a border wall to seal off Mexico.
Francis told reporters: "Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian."
Cardinals will gather on 7 May in a conclave in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope.
