One of New Jersey’s most prominent religious leaders is sharply criticizing a now‑deleted AI‑generated image depicting former President Donald Trump as Jesus, calling it offensive and disrespectful to people of faith.

Joseph Cardinal Tobin of the Newark Archdiocese said the image reflects a troubling lack of respect for the faith of millions.

Tobin called the graphic exploitation of sacred imagery deeply offensive and said it undermines the reverence believers hold for religious symbols.

The image was removed from social media after widespread criticism.

Trump later claims he believed the image showed him as a doctor making people better.

Trump also declined Monday to apologize to Pope Leo XIV following criticism over his comments on the pontiff’s opposition to the war in Iran.

Trump addressed both controversies during a question‑and‑answer session with reporters at the White House, saying he disagreed with the pope’s views and stood by his position. “He was very much against what I’m doing with regard to Iran, and you cannot have a nuclear Iran. Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result,” Trump said, adding, “I think he’s very weak on crime and other things, so I’m not” going to apologize.

Tobin’s remarks highlight broader concerns among faith leaders about the use of religious imagery in political or digital content.