Former President Donald Trump participated in a Bible reading event on Tuesday, reciting a passage from the Old Testament during a taped message for a Christian organization.

The event, titled "America Reads the Bible," was described on its website as a "sacred opportunity to call our nation back to its spiritual foundation." The week-long initiative involves multiple participants reading portions of the Bible.

Trump's participation comes days after he engaged in a public dispute with Pope Francis. The nature and details of their disagreement were not specified in available reports.

The former president also faced recent criticism from some religious supporters after posting an AI-generated image on social media that appeared to depict himself in a Jesus-like manner. The image drew backlash from various quarters of his religious base.

The Bible reading event was billed as a celebration of America's founding principles. Trump delivered his contribution via a recorded message from what appeared to be the Oval Office setting.

The timing of Trump's participation in the religious event highlights ongoing tensions between his political messaging and religious imagery, as he continues to court evangelical and Christian voters ahead of the 2024 election cycle.