Pope Leo XIV may have just stepped into his role as the spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics worldwide, but he’s already making headlines — and not just for his powerful messages of peace. Over the weekend, viewers tuning in to watch the Holy Mass were caught off guard by a surprising sight: amid the timeless grandeur of papal robes, the 69-year-old Pontiff sported a sleek, modern accessory — an Apple Watch.
Yes, you read that right. The Vicar of Christ appears to be keeping time — and maybe even tracking his steps — with the latest tech on his wrist. The image quickly exploded across social media, sparking amusement and fascination alike.
“The Pope wearing an Apple Watch? That cracks me up every time,” one Twitter user wrote, marveling at this unexpected blend of ancient tradition and cutting-edge technology.
Another chimed in, “The Pontiff rocking an Apple Watch — now that’s a surreal sight,” while others couldn’t stop laughing. “I’m obsessed with this,” said one commenter. “It’s just too funny to handle.”
Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV officially ascended to the papacy earlier this month. Since then, he’s wasted no time stepping onto the world stage, passionately advocating for peace — calling for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, urging the release of hostages, demanding humanitarian access, and welcoming recent de-escalation between India and Pakistan.
Yet, while his diplomatic moves are making headlines, it’s the tiny digital screen on his wrist that has captured the internet’s imagination. Tech sites quickly took notice, with Apple news outlet 9to5Mac posting a sharp close-up of the Pope’s smartwatch during Mass: “Newly elected Pope Leo XIV is making waves in both tech and faith circles by sporting an Apple Watch at his first official service,” the site declared.
Naturally, speculation followed. “Can anyone guess which model he’s wearing?” one tech blog teased, sparking a lively guessing game among Apple aficionados.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time the Pope has been spotted with a smartwatch. Online sleuths uncovered earlier photos of then-Cardinal Prevost blessing parishioners — smartwatch strap clearly visible.
So, as Pope Leo XIV leads the Church into a new era of moral guidance and global diplomacy, he might just be nudging the Vatican into the digital age as well — one notification, one step, and one watch face at a time.
