Vogue Names Pope Leo XIV Among the Best-Dressed Figures of 2025

Papal clothing has never been merely decorative. Every element—from fabric to color—carries layers of tradition, authority, and theology. While styles have shifted across centuries, the symbolic weight of what a pope wears continues to draw attention well beyond the Vatican.

That enduring fascination was on display this year when Vogue, one of the world’s most influential fashion publications, included Pope Leo XIV in its list of the 55 best-dressed individuals of 2025.

The pontiff appears alongside a diverse group of cultural icons spanning sports, film, music, politics, and fashion. The list features global celebrities such as Rosalía, Rihanna, Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lawrence, and tennis star Venus Williams—placing the pope in an unexpected but notable company.

Founded in 1892, the American magazine noted that Leo XIV has consciously departed from the minimalist aesthetic associated with his immediate predecessor, Pope Francis. Instead, Vogue observed that the current pontiff has embraced a return to finely executed liturgical garments, reaffirming long-standing papal traditions of ceremonial dress.

The publication singled out Leo XIV’s first public appearance as pope on May 8 as a defining fashion moment of the year. Standing on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he wore a red satin mozzetta paired with a deep wine-colored stole, richly embroidered in gold and complemented by a pectoral cross suspended from a gold silk cord.

Traditionally, the mozzetta—a short cape worn over the rochet—symbolizes papal authority. Other vestments, such as the chasuble worn during liturgical celebrations, vary in color according to the Church calendar and are historically understood as representing the “yoke of Christ,” a visual reminder of charity and service.

Pope Francis famously set aside several of these garments following his election in 2013, opting for a more restrained presentation that became a hallmark of his papacy. That choice was widely interpreted as a sign of humility and even earned him recognition from Esquire, which praised his understated approach to dress.

Behind the scenes, the artistry of papal vestments remains in the hands of renowned specialists. Italian designer Filippo Sorcinelli has played a significant role in shaping the visual identity of recent pontificates, beginning with Benedict XVI. Meanwhile, the actual tailoring of papal garments continues to be entrusted to Gammarelli, the historic Roman tailor located near the Pantheon, long regarded as the Vatican’s go-to atelier for clerical attire.