Trump had previously joked with reporters how he wouldn’t be against succeeding the late Catholic leader, adding: ‘I’d like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice.’

While chatting on the White House lawn, he revealed he did not have a preference on the next Pope, but quipped there was a ‘very good’ cardinal in New York.

It comes only one week after Pope Francis’ funeral at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City as the conclave now gather to elect a new leader for the Catholic Church.

The 88-year-old passed away on Easter Monday after dedicating his ‘entire life’ to serving God and The Church. He spent his final hours with the devoted, emerging to bless thousands of people in St Peter’s Square.

Trump’s post has been met with outrage online with many branding the move as ‘a great disrespect’, urging the