The bill, H. 4509, introduced in the South Carolina House of Representatives, seeks to memorialize the President of the United States and Congress to issue a formal apology to the Vatican and the Catholic Church. This resolution arises in response to a controversial image that surfaced on social media during the mourning period for Pope Francis, depicting the President dressed in papal attire. The image, created using artificial intelligence, has been criticized for its insensitivity and perceived sacrilege, particularly given the timing of its release.

The resolution emphasizes the importance of respecting the Christian faith and acknowledges the Pope's role as a foreign head of state, highlighting that the President's actions were not only disrespectful to the Catholic Church but also to the Vatican as a sovereign entity. The South Carolina House of Representatives calls for the President to express sincere contrition for the incident and formally apologize to the Vatican and its members. A copy of the resolution is to be presented to the President and the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.