Cardinal Burke pledges loyalty to Pope Leo after fake AI videos

Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke has publicly reaffirmed his loyalty to Pope Leo XIV after a wave of AI-generated content circulated online falsely depicting him as being in opposition to the Pontiff.

In a recent video, the cardinal addressed the faithful, stating that he had been the victim of deceptive AI manipulation. “Brothers and sisters in Christ, it has come to my attention that certain deceptive productions are being circulated which attribute to me words of opposition to His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV,” he said.

He continued: “I state with all clarity that such assertions are entirely false. I have made no such statements, nor have I given any address or interview even remotely resembling what is being described.” With these words, Cardinal Burke sought to put an end to speculation that he might be distancing himself from the Holy Father.

The cardinal described the offending materials as “works of deceit produced through technological manipulation of my image to convey messages I have never delivered.” He condemned the “deliberate use of falsehood to sow division within the Church” as “gravely sinful,” adding that the faked videos and images “bear the unmistakable mark of the Evil One, who ever seeks to confuse the faithful and to set brother against brother within the Mystical Body of Christ.”

In a clear declaration of loyalty, he affirmed: “I declare publicly and unequivocally my obedience, filial love, and unwavering respect for the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, the Vicar of Christ on earth.”

Behind the public clarification lies a web of uncertainty over the origin of the supposed AI videos and who was responsible for their dissemination. No verifiable copy of the alleged footage has been publicly produced, and no credible witness has confirmed viewing the material firsthand. Commentators on both sides have traded accusations and suspicions, yet much of the discussion has unfolded without tangible evidence.

Among those questioning the story’s origins was Traditionalist commentator Stephen Kokx, who described it as a “false flag,” asking: “The link to the AI video(s)? Where were they posted? Who was putting them out and on what platform? … This story came out of nowhere and seems to be entirely coordinated based on the persons who are amplifying it.”

Meanwhile, Vatican correspondent Edward Pentin initially suggested that the AI video originated from Traditionalist commentator Chris Jackson, before retracting the claim on X: “The sentence was an error, Stephen, and has been removed. My apologies.”

An internal investigation by The Catholic Herald could not find verified full-length deepfake video of Cardinal Burke making any claims against Pope Leo XIV. However, there are videos using AI-generated images, text and speech purporting to show him confronting the Pope—often circulated with thumbnails and metadata presenting explosive, misleading claims.

Photo credit: Cardinal Burke facebook