Pope Leo XIV has quickly become the unexpected subject of online excitement—not for his sermons, but for his wristwear.
In his first public appearance as the newly elected Pope, eagle-eyed fans of horology (the study and collection of timepieces) noticed a sleek smartwatch peeking out from under his sleeve. The verdict? The Pope appears to be an Apple Watch user.
Though His Holiness doesn’t wear only smartwatches—some speculate he may also own a Wenger Swiss Military 7223X or possibly a Casio—the sighting of an Apple Watch caused a stir in watch enthusiast circles. In fact, as Esquire reported, the Wenger model immediately sold out once rumors linked it to the Pope.
Watch blogger Nick Gould, known for his detailed celebrity watch sightings, confirmed the Apple Watch appearance. “During his first Holy Mass, Pope Leo XIV sported an Apple Watch, which he had worn previously before being elected a Cardinal,” Gould wrote.
Online sleuths quickly joined the investigation. A Reddit user even found a photo from years ago showing the Pope blessing a parishioner—Apple Watch clearly visible. Although the image isn’t clear enough to confirm whether he had closed his activity rings that day, fans joked that the Vatican’s many staircases would help keep him active now.
Whether intentional or not, Pope Leo XIV’s choice in wristwear has sparked a blend of tech and religious curiosity, reminding us that even the world’s most traditional roles can have a modern touch.
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