Harry Styles watches Pope Leo XIV’s first address in Rome as thousands pack St Peter’s Square

The 31-year-old singer was seen in a packed St Peter’s Square watching the newly elected Pope Leo XIV make his first public address to thousands of people

Midland-born pop sensation Harry Styles joined thousands of spectators in Rome to witness Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural address.

Spotted sporting black shades and a grey cap emblazoned with “Techno is my boyfriend” the 31-year-old artist, who was born in Redditch, blended into the crowd at St Peter’s Square.

Nisa Kanat, who captured the image of the award-winning musician, recounted the experience, saying she “locked eyes” with Styles ahead of the papal speech.

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Kanat shared her encounter on social media: “While watching the Pope’s announcement in St Peter’s Square, Harry Styles passed by me, we locked eyes, and I immediately snapped a photo of this moment, what a day OMG.”

The presence of the ex-One Direction member drew fans to express their excitement online.

A fan commented on X: “Harry Styles is so random. One day he’s at the Grammys, then he’s running a marathon in Japan… now he’s in Rome waiting for the new pope. I love being his fan.”

Someone else quipped: “Can’t believe the new pope got a glimpse of Harry Styles on his first day of the new job.”

The newly-appointed American Pope greeted the world from the balcony above St Peter’s Square on Thursday evening.

Pope Leo XIV, originally Cardinal Robert Prevost from Chicago, takes the reins of the Catholic Church at a relatively youthful 69.

The newly-elected pontiff was announced as the 267th Pope, taking on the role of spiritual leader to around 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, continuing the legacy believed to be directly derived from St Peter, the original head of the Church.

Addressing the masses for the first time, the new Pope imparted the blessing: “Peace be with you.”

He faces the daunting task of succeeding the widely-admired Francis, who had garnered the affectionate title of “the people’s pope”.

Well-known for his outspoken views on political issues, the late Pope Francis actively condemned warfare and environmental negligence while advocating for increased attention to the plight of the impoverished and oppressed around the world.

His death on Easter Monday sparked a wave of heartfelt homage from leaders globally, and his funeral services last month attracted hundreds of thousands of mourners, including such dignitaries as US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.