Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump got into an unlikely war of words with Pope Francis on Thursday after the head of the Catholic church called the business mogul's Christianity into question over his plans to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border. Trump fired back lightning fast with a typically sardonic response, calling the pope "disgraceful."
But the war of words also birthed a hilarious re-imagining of how Trump might direct his political vitriol, typically reserved for his presidential opponents, against the pontiff.
Twitter users were fast to share their ideas on how Trump could #MakeTheVaticanGreatAgain, imagining the attacks the presidential hopeful would launch against the Pope.
"St. Peter's Basilica? It's no Trump Tower." - Donald #Trump #MakeTheVaticanGreatAgain— Chris G (@chrismg9992) February 18, 2016
I hear this pope dude wants to give money away to poor people. Bet he's bankrupt in a year #MakeTheVaticanGreatAgain— Political Wizzard (@politicwizzard) February 18, 2016
"The Pope is bought and paid for. He asks for money every Sunday. I don't need to. I am unbelievably rich!" #MakeTheVaticanGreatAgain— Marty Mercado (@martymerc) February 18, 2016
My sources tell me Pope's real name is Jorge, not Francis. Born in Argentina, not Rome. Ted Cruz of popes! #MakeTheVaticanGreatAgain— Annie Shields (@anastasiakeeley) February 18, 2016
"This guy, the pope, wearing a red dress. Makes him look like a-I won't say it. No I won't say it. A pu--y" #MakeTheVaticanGreatAgain— Daniel Buccieri (@hypercritical9) February 18, 2016
"As someone who wrote bestselling book The Art of the Deal, I can say nobody even reads Latin. Big snooze." #MakeTheVaticanGreatAgain— Sarah Leonard (@sarahrlnrd) February 18, 2016
"He's broke. Literally worth nothing." #MakeTheVaticanGreatAgain— Richard Kim (@RichardKimNYC) February 18, 2016
But one Trump staffer pointed out that the Pope and Trump may be living a more similar reality than they realize.
Amazing comments from the Pope- considering Vatican City is 100% surrounded by massive walls. pic.twitter.com/g3iVLDVGe5— Dan Scavino (@DanScavino) February 18, 2016
The #MakeTheVaticanGreatAgain commentary bears a scary resemblance to Trump's own words. Trump issued a statement, which he also read aloud during a campaign event, slamming the pontiff, calling him "disgraceful" for questioning a person's faith.
"If and when the Vatican is attacked by ISIS, which as everyone knows is ISIS’s ultimate trophy, I can promise you that the Pope would have only wished and prayed that Donald Trump would have been President because this would not have happened," Trump said. "ISIS would have been eradicated unlike what is happening now with our all talk, no action politicians."
Pope Francis' criticism of Trump comes on the heels of a visit the pontiff made to Mexico that focused on the migration crisis at the U.S. border. Trump has made reinforcing the border a central part of his presidential campaign and has said he plans to deport all 11 million people living in the U.S. without appropriate visas.