(NewsNation) — Pope Leo XIV has been included in Vogue magazine’s annual list of the 55 Best-Dressed People of 2025, placing the head of the Catholic Church alongside global figures from music, film, sports, and politics.
Published by Vogue on Dec. 11, the prestigious fashion and lifestyle magazine highlighted the Pope’s sartorial presence over the past year, describing him as one of the year’s most “extremely fashionable characters,” a description typically reserved for celebrities and trendsetters.
The list spans artists like Rosalía and Bad Bunny, actors such as Jennifer Lawrence, and cultural icons like Michelle Obama and Venus Williams.
Symbolism and tradition
Vogue singled out Pope Leo’s first public appearance following his election earlier this year on May 8 as a defining fashion moment. The Pope, who took office just seven months ago, appeared on the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica wearing a red satin mozzetta and a wine-colored stole embroidered in gold, accented with a pectoral cross on a golden silk cord – attire praised for its elegance and craftsmanship.
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN – DECEMBER 14: Pope Leo XIV presides over a Holy Mass on the Jubilee of Prisoners at St. Peter’s Basilica on December 14, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. 14 December marked the Jubilee of Hope for prisoners and all those who work in prisons. Pope Leo recalled that 26 December last year, his predecessor Pope Francis opened the Holy Door inside Rome’s Rebibbia prison, urging his listeners to “throw open the doors of your heart.” (Photo by Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images) 
Pope Leo XIV during the Angelus on the occasion of the Jubilee for prisoners and their families in St. Peter’s Square. Vatican (Vatican), December 14th, 2025 (Photo by Grzegorz Galazka/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images) 
Pope Leo XIV receives in special audience the donors of the nativity scene and the Christmas tree, in the Paul VI Hall. Vatican City (Vatican), December 15th, 2025 (Photo by Grzegorz Galazka/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images) 
Pope Leo XIV arrives in St. Peter’s Square and greets the faithful for the general audience. Vatican City (Vatican), December 10th, 2025 (Photo by Rocco Spaziani/Archivio Spaziani/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
Vogue noted that this style marks a departure from the more austere aesthetic of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who was known for simpler dress after his election in 2013. Vogue attributed this shift to the current pontiff’s embrace of traditional liturgical garments, meticulously tailored yet rich in historical and theological symbolism.
Fashion meets faith
Although popes have long worn elaborate vestments for liturgical and ceremonial reasons, Vogue’s recognition underscores how papal attire can transcend its religious context to capture broader cultural attention. Editors highlighted how Leo XIV’s choices reflect both continuity with centuries-old church traditions and a personal visual identity that resonates beyond ecclesiastical circles.
A broader cultural moment
Pope Leo XIV’s appearance on the Vogue list also reflects his increasingly visible engagement with culture beyond strictly religious spheres. Over the course of 2025, he has hosted a range of public figures from film and art at the Vatican, signaling a papacy that is attentive to contemporary dialogues across media and society.
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