Even Harry Styles, the enigmatic singer, is aware that life, post the momentous 2025 papal conclave, is no longer "As It Was." On Thursday, May 8th, amidst the throng gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the historic election of Pope Leo XIV as the successor to the late Pope Francis—who passed away in April at the age of 88—the 31-year-old heartthrob was unexpectedly spotted by his adoring fans.
Dressed in a striking blue jacket, sunglasses, and a grey baseball cap adorned with the playful phrase "Techno is My Boyfriend," the Grammy Award-winner became an unanticipated fashion icon. Sold by IDEA, the hat swiftly sold out, testament to Styles' unparalleled influence.
The image of Styles immersed in the Vatican City crowd quickly went viral. One fan humorously captioned a photo of Pope Leo XIV with an "X" beside it, quipping, "Little did the pope know he was waving to Harry Styles." Another fan echoed this sentiment, remarking, "One thing about Harry Styles is that he's always bound to inadvertently create cinematic moments somewhere in Europe."
Styles had wrapped up his record-breaking Love on Tour in 2023, a journey that included a stellar 15-show residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City and a sold-out performance at the storied Slane Castle in County Meath, Ireland. This tour followed the release of his critically acclaimed 2022 album, Harry's House, which garnered him a Grammy for Album of the Year in 2023.
Since then, Styles has traversed the globe, making unforgettable marks wherever he goes. In March, he stunned spectators by participating in a Tokyo marathon, where he outpaced over 20,000 runners with an impressive sub-3:30 finishing time. Also, that same month, a ride-share driver known as Pink London Taxi on Instagram garnered viral fame after sharing her chance encounter with the singer. "Picked up this young fella on my way home tonight," she captioned her post. "We got chatting, and I said, 'You really sound like Harry Styles.' He replied, 'That's because I am Harry Styles.' He was such a friendly young chap!"
In April, the crooner of "Carolina" made a casual appearance at a London running club, dressed down in jeans and loafers. Styles' most recent foray into the public eye marked the dawn of a new era with the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff in Catholic Church history. Born Robert Francis Prevost, the 69-year-old pope hails from Chicago and has ties to Villanova University.
Pope Leo XIV is a member of the Augustinian Order of the clergy, an esteemed order founded in 1244 in Italy, dedicated to serving the poor and acting as missionaries throughout history, as highlighted on its official website.
