WASHINGTON - A few days before the Cardinal will gather at the Pope's Council to choose the next director of the Catholic Church, President Donald Trump has released a seemingly AI-like image portraying himself as the Pope.

The image was released Friday and magnified by the White House, and was not getting along well with a group of Catholics who went to social media over the weekend to condemn the portrayal.

"Sir President, there's nothing clever or interesting about this image," said the X account of the New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the state's bishop in public policy programs.

“We have just buried our beloved Pope Francis, and the Cardinal is about to enter a solemn meeting to elect St. Peter’s new successor,” the Post continued to refer to the first pope. "Don't laugh at us."

The image appears to be produced by artificial intelligence, depicting the president of the Catholic rich man, similar to the president worn by Francis and his predecessors. In the picture, the president is also wearing a large cross necklace and sitting on a chair with a golden accent.

Trump posted the image to Truth Social on Friday night, and the White House soon enlarged the post on X.

New York's cardinal Timothy Dolan, appointed to the White House Committee on Religious Freedom on Thursday, told NBC News' Anne Thompson that the image was "bad." Doran added in Italian that the image makes a bad impression.

Starting from May 7, Duran will become one of more than 100 cardinals gathered in the Vatican to elect the new pope.

In an article on X, former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, a Trump critic, said the president's images "offensive believers, insult institutions, and show that leaders of global rights like to be clowns," explained Google Translator.

James Martin, a Jesuit pastor who serves as general editor of the American Jesuit Press magazine, also said in X's post: "Even if I find this offensive attitude, I'll assume Mr. Trump means to illustrate this easily."

Martin added: "But imagine if Joe Biden or Barack Obama did it, if it was anger of the American bishop, a swift condemnation, and a personal and joint protest of the American bishop."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday afternoon.

But Catholic Vice President JD Vance argued about the controversy. He responded to the position of Bill Kristol, the general editor of the Fort and the director of the defense of democracy, who tagged Vance and asked him “to be satisfied with this disrespect and ridicule of the Holy Father.”

Vance replied: "As a general rule, I'm good at telling jokes, rather than being dissatisfied with the people who started the stupid war that killed thousands of fellow countrymen."

The Associated Press also reported that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the criticism, saying: "President Trump flew to Italy to pay tribute to Pope Francis and attended his funeral, who has been a staunch champion of Catholics and religious freedom."

Last week, Trump also joked that he wanted to be the successor to Pope Francis.

"I want to be the pope. That will be my first choice," Trump told reporters.

According to a death certificate issued by the Vatican, Francis died of a stroke, coma and a "heart circulatory collapse" on April 21. He is 88 years old.