People were doing double-takes over the weekend, not because of a papal decree, but because of a watch.
During a recent Holy Mass, newly appointed Pope Leo XIV, formerly Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was seen wearing something that left many online observers equal parts amused and intrigued: an Apple Watch.
The 69-year-old pontiff was officially welcomed into his role on May 8 and has already made headlines for calling for peace in Ukraine and Gaza, urging a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and increased humanitarian aid. He also praised the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. But this time, the buzz wasn’t about geopolitics, it was about tech.
Photos from a recent Mass show the pope in his traditional vestments, blessing the congregation with his right hand while sporting an Apple Watch on his left wrist.
Naturally, social media ran with it.
“Him wearing an Apple Watch gets me every time,” one person wrote on X.
“The Pontiff wearing an Apple Watch is a really surreal image,” another added.
“The Apple Watch is so funny,” a third chimed in.
This isn’t the first time the Pope’s wristwear has gone viral. After his election, eagle-eyed users noticed a glimpse of the smartwatch in various appearances. Apple-focused site 9to5Mac even posted a close-up shot to Instagram, sparking speculation in the comments.
“Newly elected Pope Leo XIV is making buzz in the tech and watch communities after being seen wearing an Apple Watch during his first official mass,” read the caption. “It’s not clear which model this is. Any guesses?”
The post was quickly reshared by Apple news accounts, confirming what many suspected: yes, the Pope really is an Apple Watch guy.
One Reddit user even uncovered an older photo of Leo XIV, pre-papacy, blessing a parishioner while wearing the same watch.
“During his first Holy Mass, Pope Leo XIV sported an Apple Watch, which he had worn previously before being elected a Cardinal,” the post noted.
It’s a surreal image; ancient ritual meets modern tech. But maybe it makes sense. In an age where even your grandma’s tracking her steps, why shouldn’t the pope?
Now the only question left is: what’s his daily step goal?
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