According to Vanity Fair, Papa Leone XIV is officially among the most stylish personalities of 2026, earning a spot in the publication’s “Originals” category for a distinct wardrobe that blends traditional ecclesiastical garments with casual footwear. The recognition follows a series of widely circulated visual moments featuring the Pontiff.
The Origins of the Recognition
According to AGI, the inclusion in the 2026 list stems from a memorable photograph showing the Pope walking while wearing sneakers beneath his white cassock. Vanity Fair noted that Robert Francis Prevost maintains a sense of ironica informalità, occasionally pairing his religious attire with baseball caps. The publication observed how even prior to his papacy, the future Pope wore a modest cream-colored cassock paired with Nike sneakers, a detail also featured in the Vatican News documentary “Leone a Roma.”
Category Breakdown and Precedents
Vanity Fair’s “Originals” category highlights figures known for unique, innovative, and surprising personal styles. Within this specific grouping, Papa Leone XIV secured the sixth position. The rankings place him behind filmmaker Spike Lee, Olympic figure skater Alysa Lui, Studio Museum director Thelma Golden, blogger Colby Mugrabi, and writer Hilton Ela, while preceding fashion designer Sandy Powell alongside vocalists Rosalía, Yseult, and Björk. This publication marks a return for the list, which the magazine had not issued since 2019.
This is not the first time the Pontiff has caught the attention of the fashion publication. AGI records show that Prevost was previously acknowledged by Vanity Fair among notable figures of 2025 for wearing a tailored overcoat layered over a floor-length cassock, a sartorial choice the magazine praised for merging contemporary aesthetic appeal with traditional ecclesiastical wear.
Public Reception and Official Documentation
The intersection of papal office and contemporary streetwear has drawn broad international commentary. The visual documentation, originating largely from official Vatican media projects detailing his years in Rome, highlights a relaxed approach to personal comfort within strict institutional boundaries.
Worth a look
