Images of Pope Francis Holding a Rainbow Flag Are AI-Generated
The Claim
A set of images features Pope Francis celebrating Pride Month while proudly holding a rainbow flag.
Emerging story
During the Pride Month, a set of images is circulating on social media, allegedly showing Pope Francis holding a rainbow flag in celebration for the LGBTQ+ community.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating images and found them to be fake.
The images making the rounds are not real but AI-generated.
Images of the Pope With a Pride Flag Are AI-Generated
A reverse image search conducted by Misbar's team led us to the original publisher of the images. The Facebook user named Gay Forest, shared them on April 3, 2023.
The caption of the post indicates that the images were created using Midjourney, an AI image generator.
Upon closer examination, it is clear that the images have some flaws.
The cross, for example, appears distorted and does not include the symbol of the "Good Shepherd," which is a representation of the Prophet Jesus.
Furthermore, the AI-generated image exhibits a distorted portrayal of the Pope's fingers.
What Is Midjourney?
Midjourney is an independent research organization that was founded by David Holzlab. They have developed an AI service called Midjourney, which specializes in generating images based on textual descriptions. This innovative tool covers a broad range of artistic styles, from realistic to abstract.
Midjourney's AI is highly regarded for producing images that are of excellent quality, well-structured, and intricately detailed.
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