Pope Leo XIV may lead the Catholic Church, but it turns out he’s also a fan of Britain’s Got Talent — so much so, he once delivered a sermon inspired by Susan Boyle’s unforgettable audition.
The newly-elected pontiff, whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost, was described as having a “good sense of humour” by Father George Donaghy, who met him in the United States in the 1990s and later spent time in the same religious community in Italy.
Speaking to the BBC, Father Donaghy said: “He preached on when Susan Boyle was in Britain’s Got Talent and he saw her on that, so he's a very down to earth guy, he's very in tune with the world.”
The 69-year-old Pope, an Augustinian friar, has attracted attention for blending traditional values with a relatable, modern approach.
His appreciation for Boyle — who became a global sensation after singing I Dreamed a Dream in 2009 — is just one example of his cultural awareness.
Boyle, now 64, came second in the ITV competition but went on to have a chart-topping debut album and an international career.
She has since released six more studio albums and returned to the BGT stage in 2023 after recovering from a stroke, which she later said left her unsure if she’d sing again.
Boyle first sang for a pope in 2010, performing at Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park during Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Scotland, ahead of his celebration mass.
The Scottish singer then performed for Pope Francis, and paid tribute to him in a heartfelt video message following his death earlier this year.
“It was the honour and privilege of my life,” she said of her performance for the former Pope, describing him as “a man for all seasons.”
Elsewhere, Harry Styles was seen among the crowds in Vatican City as Pope made his first public remarks after becoming the 267th pontiff - and the first American pope in history.
The three-time Grammy winner, 31, kept a low profile in Rome, dressed in a blue coat he’s been spotted wearing before, black sunglasses and a grey baseball cap that read ‘Techno is my boyfriend.’
Despite his A-list status, Styles appeared to blend into the crowd during the historic moment in St. Peter’s Square.
Fans quickly took to social media to share their shock and delight at spotting the former One Direction star at such a monumental event.
This isn’t the first time Harry Styles has popped up in an unexpected place.
In March, he surprised fans by running the Tokyo Marathon, and he’s also been spotted recently in Berlin.
Also in March, the singer was seen in Rome with Valentino’s creative director, Alessandro Michele - a sighting that quickly sparked rumours of a potential collaboration, especially given their past working relationship during Michele’s tenure at Gucci.
