US President Donald Trump posted an AI image of himself as the pope, prompting accusations of poor taste in the Roman Catholic community just days before the conclave to elect Pope Francis’s successor is due to begin.

The New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the bishops of the state in working with government, accused Donald Trump of mockery after the White House posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of the president dressed as pope.

"And so it is what is, I guess, but it's very unfortunate," said Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob. "It's a very serious time."