The 31-year-old singer was spotted in the crowd of people waiting in St Peter’s Square in Rome for the announcement of the new pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, on Thursday

Harry Styles was spotted among the crowd of people celebrating Pope Leo XIV in St Peter’s Square(Image: INSTAGRAM)

Harry Styles has been spotted amongst crowds in Vatican City as Pope Leo XIV was announced as the successor to the late Pope Francis. After the white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel to announce that the conclave had elected a new Pope, thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City to watch as the pontiff appeared on the balcony.

One of the figures in the crowd was the One Direction star, who was captured on camera wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap with the words “Techno is My Boyfriend” embroidered. A photograph of the singer was shared by the pop culture X account @popcrave.

Fans reacted to the sighting with jokes referring to his last album being released three years ago. One wrote: “He’ll do anything except get in the studio”, and another posted: “Doing everything but recording.”

One X user said: “He’s so unhinged, I cannot love him enough but darling I need new music please.” Another added: “Harry Styles is so random, one day he’s at the Grammys winning album of the year, then he’s running a marathon in Japan, but he could also be in Rome waiting for the announcement of the new pope, I love being his fan.”

Crowds gathered to welcome Pope Leo XIV as he came out onto the balcony(Image: Getty Images)

Harry has previously discussed his views towards religion, and back on Twitter in 2010 he wrote that he had been christened but was “not really that religious”. In an interview with Chelsea Handler in 2016, the As It Was singer explained that he considered himself to be “more spiritual than religious”. He explained: “I’m not super tied-in to certain rules but I think it’s naïve to say nothing exists and there’s nothing above us or more powerful than us. I think that’s a little narrow-minded.”

Pope Leo XIV, known before as Cardinal Robert Prevost, is the first American to become a pontiff. The 69-year-old, who is from Chicago, addressed the cheering crowd and said: “Peace be with all of you. Brothers and sisters dearest, this is the first greeting of Christ resurrected. I would like to offer a greeting of peace to reach your families, all of you, wherever you are. May peace be with you.”

His predecessor, Francis, died at the age of 88 on April 21st, Easter Monday. His public appearance before his death had been Easter Sunday. Speaking about Francis, Pope Leo XIV told the crowd in Rome: “We still hear in our ears the weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis who blessed us. United and hand in hand with God, let us advance together.”

Following the news that the first American Pope had been elected, President Trump offered his congratulations on his social media platform, Truth Social. He said: “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”