Harry Styles was among the many spectators that gathered in Vatican City to watch Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, assume his new role as leader of the Catholic Church.

Harry Styles has been praying ever since New York the Vatican.  

Among the thousands of spectators who gathered in Vatican City to watch Pope Leo XIV—born Robert Francis Prevost—step onto the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square to assume his new role as leader of the Catholic church, was a familiar face.

Indeed, the “Watermelon Sugar” singer was spotted casually sporting his signature mustache, a blue jacket, sunglasses and a gray hat with “Techno is My Boyfriend” embroidered on the front.

“Little did the pope know he was waving to Harry Styles,” one user joked on X, while a viral parody account dedicated to the most meme-worthy conclave news quipped, “He’s a Pope Crave correspondent.”

“Harry Styles is so random,” another user wrote. “One day he’s at the Grammys winning Album of the Year, then he’s running a marathon in Japan, but he could also be in Rome waiting for the announcement of the new pope.”

As for the first-ever pope from the United States—who likely had no idea he in the presence of a One Direction alum—the Chicago native was elected just one day after the College of Cardinals gathered for a conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor.

Following the Vatican’s traditional nine days of mourning called the Novendiales, 133 cardinals—all under the age of 80—voted in the secret election until they reached a two-thirds majority agreement on who they would elect as the new pontiff.

And after a Vatican official burned the paper ballots to make white smoke rise from a chimney, signaling a decision had been made, the new pope’s brother John Prevost detailed his final conversation with Pope Leo XIV before he was sequestered with the other cardinals.

Spoiler alert: the 2024 film Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, was a hot topic of discussion.

“I said, ‘Did you watch the movie Conclave so you know how to behave?’” John recalled in an interview with NBC Chicago. “And, he had just finished watching the movie Conclave. So, he knew how to behave.”

“I wanted to take his mind off of it,” he added. “You know, laugh about something because this is now an awesome responsibility.”

And all jokes aside, John expressed that he has full faith that his brother will honor his new responsibilities while implementing “middle of the road” policies.

“The best way I could describe him right now is that he will be following in Francis’ footsteps,” he told the New York Times. “They were very good friends. They knew each other before he was pope, before my brother even was bishop.”

Beyond Conclave, keep reading to see all the stars that have depicted popes onscreen.

Jude Law

The Holiday star portrayed the fictional, upstart Pope Pius XIII on the TV series The Young Pope. 

Anthony Hopkins

The Silence of the Lambs actor portrayed Pope Benedict XVI in the 2019 biographical film The Two Popes. 

Jonathan Pryce

The Slow Horses star played opposite Anthony as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the future Pope Francis.

Robbie Coltrane

The Harry Potter actor played fictional Father Albinizi who accidentally is elected Pope in 1991’s The Pope Must Die. 

Jon Voight

In Pope John Paul II, the National Treasure alum played the titular pope.

Cary Elwes

The Princess Bride actor played the younger version of Jon’s Pope John Paul II. 

Piotr Adamczyk

The Polish actor portrayed the future Pope John Paul II in the TV series Karol: A Man Who Became Pope.

Source: www.eonline.com