Pope Leo named in Vanity Fair best dressed list for Nike trainers
Pope Leo has been named in Vanity Fair's best dressed list, noted for wearing Nike trainers with his papal robes.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Pope Leo has been named in Vanity Fair's annual best dressed list, with the magazine praising his decision to pair traditional papal vestments with a pair of retro Nike trainers. The list, which usually features pop culture icons such as Harry Styles and actor Jacob Elordi, now includes the leader of the Catholic Church, who was described as taking "traditional papal vestments to heavenly heights" by combining them with his American heritage.
The trainer revelation came from a recently released Vatican documentary about his path to the papacy. In footage from the documentary, the Pope is seen meeting worshippers at the Vatican wearing a classic white cap and cassock, but with the distinctive Nike trainers visible beneath his robes. The choice has been interpreted by fashion commentators as a deliberate "high-low" mix of formal and casual styles, a term used in the industry to describe combining different worlds.
Pope Leo is not the first pontiff to make a bold fashion statement. Benedict XVI regularly wore handmade red loafers, while John Paul II had a favourite two-tone Rolex. Pope Francis was once pictured in a puffer jacket, though that image was later revealed to be an AI fake. But only Pope Leo has been placed alongside pop culture icons on Vanity Fair's list, a sign, according to one fashion expert, that "fashion and fashion media is clearly broadening its scope as to who it's looking at."
The story has been treated with a mix of amusement and admiration. At his daily audience earlier, there was no fashion chat and no Nike trainers on display, but the Pope's inclusion on the list has been widely noted. As one presenter put it: "The devil may wear Prada, but the pope wears Nike."
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| Pope Leo was named in Vanity Fair's best dressed list, with reports noting his Nike trainers, a Vatican documentary, and that he is the only pope on the list. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV1 treated the story as a light-hearted, quirky item, with a humorous tone and a focus on the contrast between the Pope's formal robes and his Nike trainers. The report provided context by mentioning other popes' fashion choices and noted the AI fake of Pope Francis, while also including a fashion expert's comment on the broadening scope of fashion media. The channel's closing line, "The devil may wear Prada, but the pope wears Nike," captured its playful editorial slant.
- “In what world are two of the biggest and most glamorous stars in show business? Harry Styles and actor Jacob Elordi bracketed alongside the Pope, the world fashion, apparently.”
- “I think it's really interesting. I think fashion and fashion media is clearly broadening its scope as to who it's looking at.”
- “The devil may wear Prada, but the pope wears Nike.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.