Pope Francis wore a white puffer jacket
| Pope Francis wore a white puffer jacket | |
|---|---|
| MANIPULATED MEDIA | |
| "Photographs show Pope Francis wearing a stylish, oversized white puffer jacket." | |
| Domain | Technology & Media |
| Tactic | Fabrication |
| Era | Current |
| First seen | 2023 |
| Origin | Images generated with the AI tool Midjourney and posted to Reddit in March 2023, which then spread widely on Twitter and other platforms |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-27 |
| Further reading: books on Technology & Media | |
The images of Pope Francis wearing a white puffer jacket were among the first AI-generated pictures to fool large numbers of people. In March 2023, realistic images showed the pope in a long, quilted white coat resembling designer streetwear, sometimes with a jeweled crucifix. They spread rapidly on social media, where many viewers, including celebrities, assumed they were real. The images had been created with the AI image generator Midjourney by a man from the Chicago area who told BuzzFeed News that he had made them for fun. The episode was widely described as a turning point in public awareness of how convincing AI-generated images had become.
What the evidence shows
- Creator. The creator told BuzzFeed News that he generated the images using Midjourney and posted them to a Reddit forum for AI art, and that he was surprised by how quickly they spread.
- Telltale signs. On close inspection, the images showed errors typical of AI generation at the time, such as a distorted hand holding a cup and a crucifix chain that did not connect properly. The images were also inconsistent with any public appearance by the pope.
- Celebrity confusion. Model Chrissy Teigen posted that she had assumed the photos were real.
- Timing. The images appeared the same week as AI-generated images showing former president Donald Trump being arrested, which also spread widely.
- Policy changes. Shortly afterward, Midjourney ended its free trial, citing abuse, and platforms expanded labeling of AI-generated content.
Why it persists
The image was harmless and amusing, which made people less likely to question it. It was plausible enough—an unusual but not outrageous outfit—to pass a quick glance. It remains a common example in discussions of AI images and media literacy.
Lessons for readers
- Realistic images are no longer proof that an event happened.
- Look for small anomalies in hands, text and accessories.
- Harmless fakes can train audiences to accept harmful ones.
- Check whether reputable outlets or official sources show the same scene.
See also
- Explosion at the Pentagon (AI-generated image, 2023)
- Deepfake video shows Zelensky ordering Ukrainian troops to surrender
- The Cottingley Fairies photographs
Sources
- Chris Stokel-Walker, "We Spoke To The Guy Who Created The Viral AI Image Of The Pope That Fooled The World," BuzzFeed News, March 27, 2023.