Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Catholic Church, Pope Francis, Religion, Politics, World News
Joe Yates
Topics: Donald Trump, Catholic Church, Pope Francis, Religion, Politics, World News
President Donald Trump has revealed who he'd want to be the next pope, and the answer is sure to leave some people praying.
After Pope Francis sadly passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday (April 21) - with Trump attending his funeral on Saturday - a date has now been set to for cardinals to meet as part of a secret conclave to elect the next pope - a week today.
Around 135 cardinals from all around the world are believed to be attending the closed-door meeting in the Sistine Chapel, located in Rome's Vatican City, but none of those are favored by Trump.
When asked on the lawn of the White House who he wishes to become pope next, you can only imagine what the 78-year-old Republican said. Have a listen:
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Yes, he responded: “I’d like to be pope - that’d be my number one choice."
Of course, the president was joking but it's still left people feeling very unsettled, to say the least!
Taking to Twitter, one user wrote: "A convicted pope," while another quipped: "Let me guess, 'I’d be a better pope than any past pope'."
Another joked: "If he becomes pope, then perhaps there will be historic changes in the religious system."
With a fourth adding: "Why yes. Clearly Trump has a clear grasp on Catholicism. Question? If he doesn’t get two thirds vote from the College of Cardinals, will Trump accuse the papacy of cheating?"
Unfortunately for Trump, and I'm sure a few MAGA supporters, even if he wanted to be considered as a candidate, he is ineligible.
To be up with a chance of election into the Apostolic Palace, you must be Catholic, meaning you'd first need to be baptized.
Trump is a Christian in belief so unless he converted to Catholicism before Wednesday next week, his chances of becoming the next pope are nil.
Some people were fighting the president's corner however, with one penning: "Trump would be an excellent Pope!" while a second typed: "I think he was joking - right?"
A third laughed: "Hahaahahahahha! Even the people that don’t like Trump have to admit, this was funny!"
With another adding: "Trump is the best Troller that the world has ever seen."
Trump has previously been questioned over his religion; if you recall back in 2015 during his presidential campaign, he claimed the Bible was his favorite book.
When asked by a CNN reporter what his most liked verse from the holy book is, he replied: "I wouldn’t want to get into it. Because to me, that’s very personal.
"The Bible means a lot to me, but I don’t want to get into specifics."
Before being asked to share whether he preferred the New or Old Testaments, he responded: "Probably equal. I think it’s just incredible."