Local religious and political leaders were among those reacting with shock and anger after President Donald Trump posted an image of himself as a Jesus Christ-like figure.
The AI-generated image was posted on the president’s Truth Social page on Monday morning but later deleted.
It was posted just hours after Trump launched an online attack on Pope Leo, claiming he was “weak on crime” and terrible “for foreign policy”.
Pope Leo replied that he had no fear of the Trump administration.
Trump faced criticism from political and religious leaders in the US and beyond, including locally, for posting the Christ-like image.
Fr Gary Donegan, a Passionist priest attached to the Holy Cross parish in Ardoyne, said the post was “verging on blasphemy” as the “wannabe King mocks Christ”.
Anyone in the United States “that represents Jesus should call him out over this”.
The image appeared to show Trump healing a sick man in a hospital bed with images of the Statue of Liberty, a large US flag, fighter jets and an eagle in the background.
“I’ve had the privilege of being in the last 35yrs at the bedside of 100s of sick and dying including seven literally dying in my arms,” Fr Donegan said.
“It is the most privileged of moments. As I anointed the sick, it’s a profoundly sacred and holy experience.”
The US President “is a role that bears great responsibility, accountability, dignity and statesman-like behaviour”, said Fr Donegan, adding he has met four who have held that position.
“Sadly attacking the Holy Father and depicting himself as Our Lord blessing the sick is indeed sick in itself.”
He added: “I met with 40 wonderful Irish Americans on Saturday people of great faith and had the privilege of offering Holy Mass for them.
“Today I think of them and the good people of America and can but pray for them.”
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan posted the image with the message: “I had to check if this absolutely chaotic post from Trump was real…turns out it is! I doubt Pope Leo will lose much sleep over the spiralling innate ramblings of a man who is now completely detached from reality and sees himself as some sort of Messiah! Sheer madness!!"