Harry Styles Explains Appearance at Pope Leo XIV’s Conclave Election

by

Harry Styles has a golden explanation for his recent visit to Vatican City.

Just eight months after unexpectedly appearing as Pope Leo XIV in the city, the Grammy-winning musician—who recently released a new single called “Aperture” and returned to making music—shared the story of how he ended up among the attendees at the Vatican.

In a BBC Radio 1 interview released on January 22nd, he remembered being in Rome getting a haircut when he heard a crowd shouting ‘Habemus papam!’ and saw people running through the streets.

Once Harry’s barber, who had quickly joined in the cheering, finished his haircut, Harry—age 31—went to St. Peter’s Square to experience the historic event firsthand.

“I was like, ‘I’m a five-minute walk from there,’ so I walked over,” he continued. “It was wild.”

The former One Direction member joked that he wasn’t used to watching from the sidelines, saying he wondered who was getting all the attention.

When Pope Leo—who was born Robert Francis Prevost—first appeared publicly after being chosen as the successor to Pope Francis in May, someone in the crowd noticed Prince Harry. He was dressed casually in a blue jacket, sunglasses, and a dark hat with the phrase “Techno is My Boyfriend” on it. The sighting quickly spread online, and people on social media made jokes about where Harry might turn up next.

People online are commenting on how unpredictable Harry Styles is. One user on X (formerly Twitter) pointed out that he goes from major events like winning a Grammy to surprising activities like running a marathon in Japan, and could just as easily be found anywhere in the world, like waiting for the new Pope to be announced in Rome.

A meme account connected to the event jokingly explained Harry’s attendance by saying he was a reporter for “Pope Crave.”

Need more Harry lore? Keep reading for all the most interesting facts about the singer…

Oh my gosh, Harry Styles! He was born on February 1st, 1994, in this adorable little town called Evesham, in Worcestershire. His mom, Anne Cox, is amazing, and his dad is Desmond Styles. And he has a sister, Gemma, who’s four years older than him – she was born in 1990! I just adore his whole family, they seem so lovely!

The family relocated to Holmes Chapel in Cheshire shortly after his birth, and his mother, Anne, recalls his first word being “cat.”

Styles described his hometown – a village of around 5,000 people – as both “quite boring” and “picturesque.”

In his memoir, Dare to Dream, Harry remembered being unusually upset—he rarely cried—when his parents told him and his sister, Gemma, that they were getting divorced. He was seven years old at the time.

He admitted he hadn’t fully understood the situation at the time, but he was simply upset about his parents’ separation.

Des and Anne stayed together for two more years. Then, Des moved out and Anne relocated with Harry and Gemma to Northwich, a rural area in Cheshire. Later, when Harry was a teenager, the family returned to live in Holmes Chapel.

Anne and Robin Twist got married in 2013 after being a couple for more than ten years. Her son, Harry, proudly walked her down the aisle and served as best man at the wedding.

Everyone agreed Harry was a lively, imaginative child who loved being the center of attention – a natural performer, whether he was singing or playfully running around in his underwear at the train station! He thrived in school plays, and the classic rock music he shared with his dad on weekends – artists like Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Queen – really influenced his own musical preferences.

Louisa Jepson’s 2013 biography, Harry Styles—Every Piece of Me, reveals that Harry’s first recording was of Elvis Presley’s “The Girl of My Best Friend,” made on a karaoke machine his grandfather gave him. As he grew up, he also became a fan of bands like Coldplay and artists such as John Mayer and Noel Gallagher.

Harry started playing music in a band around age 14, initially hoping to play bass. However, another member already covered that role, so he became the singer instead. The band, called White Eskimo, won their school’s Battle of the Bands, earning a £100 prize and their first paid performance at a wedding.

Anne told Now magazine in 2010 that her son has always been confident. She said he’s been making people happy since he was a child, and she always predicted he’d become a performer.

Harry earned a little extra scratch—£6 an hour—working at W. Mandeville bakery on Saturdays. 

Simon Wakefield, his former boss, told the Mirror in 2013 that he was the politest employee they’d ever had. Wakefield said customers particularly liked him when Styles came back to the shop to film parts of the movie One Direction: This Is Us.

Mr. Wakefield explained that the shop became very popular with young girls when Harry worked there – sometimes as many as twelve would come in at once. Even today, groups of around twenty girls often visit and take pictures of the shop. Harry was a dedicated employee, responsible for everything from serving customers and cleaning the back room, to scrubbing floors, washing trays, and keeping the counter tidy.

Anne was the one who ended up sending Harry’s X Factor application in when he got cold feet.

When he auditioned for The X Factor in spring 2010, the 16-year-old – who often receives compliments on his voice, usually from his mum – performed Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” without any musical accompaniment. He explained that singing is his passion, and if the people who could help him achieve his dream didn’t believe in him, it would be a significant obstacle to his plans.

It was a bit of a mixed bag, really. Harry didn’t quite reach the final or even the last group of boys competing, but the show’s producers clearly saw something in him – they weren’t ready to let him go just yet! As a fan, I was thrilled they decided to keep him around.

It was a pivotal moment when Simon Cowell and guest judge Nicole Scherzinger – who was standing in for Cheryl Cole – decided to put Harry together with other hopeful soloists: Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson.

In the 2013 documentary One Direction: Going Our Way, Nicole Scherzinger playfully admits to being a key, though often unacknowledged, part of the group’s success. She describes it as capturing something special. Meanwhile, judge Louis Walsh is remembered for famously not recognizing Harry Styles’ potential.

It was Harry, however, who came up with the group’s name.

He remembered thinking the name sounded good when they were brainstorming. They tossed around a few ideas, and he honestly couldn’t recall exactly how it was chosen. He suggested it, everyone agreed, and it just ended up sticking.

Zayn explained on Phoenix’s Hot 97.5 FM in 2012 that the band initially brainstormed a bunch of potential names. Harry suggested the name they ultimately chose, sending it to the group via text. Everyone liked it immediately. Apparently, Liam came up with some pretty awkward suggestions too. Zayn also remembered one of them being an acronym – USP, which stood for Unique Selling Point.

In October 2010, One Direction hit the X Factor stage live for the first time.

Even though I’m his mother, Harry is a genuinely kind person, and he’s presenting himself on the show just as he is at home,” Anne told Now magazine.

When Harry went to the X Factor house, I told him, ‘Stay yourself, Harry, and don’t become someone you’re not. Remember, you’ll still have chores to do when you get back home, like unloading the dishwasher.’

Despite being naturally talented for performing, Harry began experiencing panic attacks before each live show, according to Alice Montgomery’s biography, Harry. He once even vomited in the hallway from the anxiety. Eventually, he found that drinking sparkling water and practicing deep breathing helped him calm down before going on stage.

Despite their later success, One Direction didn’t win The X Factor in 2010. They finished in third place, with Matt Cardle winning the series and Rebecca Ferguson coming in second.

Harry recalled enjoying friendships with both girls and boys during his primary school years, as biographer Louisa Jepson noted. He wasn’t like some boys who disliked girls, and generally got along with everyone.

According to his White Eskimo bandmate, Will Sweeny, Harry Styles was surprisingly popular with girls even when he was very young. Sweeny told the Daily Star that Harry had several girlfriends starting around age ten, and always seemed to have a natural charm that attracted them. He described it as amusing and remarkable.

Louis Tomlinson jokingly complained to The Sun that the biggest issue with living with Harry Styles was the never-ending parade of women coming and going. He said it was “relentless.” Of course, Louis was dating Eleanor Calder at the time, so he was likely teasing Harry a bit.

However, Jepson’s dad, Desmond, reassured him that his son was completely devoted when he was truly in love with someone – he only had eyes for that one woman.

Harry has always prioritized safety, especially when it comes to intimacy. He shared with OK! magazine in 2012 that he was worried about getting someone pregnant the first time he had sex, even though they had taken precautions. Thankfully, everything was okay. He believes it’s irresponsible to assume things will be alright without taking proper safety measures.

Oh my gosh, after One Direction won The X Factor in 2011, Harry was SO open about liking Frankie Bridge, who was 22 at the time and in The Saturdays! And can we talk about Caroline Flack? He was clearly into the host of The Xtra Factor, who was 31. It was all anyone was talking about! I remember being completely obsessed with who he’d end up with!

He confessed to having a long-time crush on Frankie Bridge, dating back to when she was in S Club Juniors as an eight-year-old. He admitted to having posters of her and expressed a desire to kiss her. He also shared that both Frankie and Caroline Flack were his celebrity crushes, calling them both attractive. After the interview, he posted on The X Factor website, hoping Caroline Flack would see his message and say hello, adding that he thought she was gorgeous.

Harry and Caroline first met in October 2011 at an after-party for a show at London’s W Hotel, and they left together. However, according to Alice Montgomery, nothing significant happened between them that night.

In her 2015 memoir, Storm in a C Cup, Caroline Flack described how she and her partner initially connected well, enjoying each other’s company and having fun. She explained that their relationship only became difficult once it became public. At first, she said, things were lighthearted, and he had playfully joked about being attracted to older women.

Despite claims that she and Harry Styles were just friends, fans of the band One Direction strongly expressed their disapproval, leading Caroline Flack to publicly state, “I’m good friends with Harry, and he’s a really kind person. I don’t deserve to receive death threats because of it.”

“Flack off, Caroline,” read a banner on display at a 1D concert.

The 14-year age difference between them continued to draw criticism from both the public and the media. Caroline Flack responded to the negativity in an interview with Now magazine, saying she didn’t understand why people found it so upsetting. “If two people connect and are happy, why do others need to focus on the negative?” she asked, noting that some people quickly jump to see the worst in things.

As One Direction began to achieve massive international fame, Harry and Taylor secretly stopped dating around early 2012.

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe this! So, One Direction was on iCarly back in 2012, and it was EVERYTHING. Harry, specifically, drank out of Carly’s water bottle, and then he pretends he got, like, ‘jungle worms’ – seriously! The doctor had just warned Carly she was still getting over something and shouldn’t kiss anyone, and then Harry pulls this! It was so cute, but also… strategic? Because even when he was clearly fine, he kept insisting he was still sick just so Carly would keep taking care of him! I swear, he’s a master manipulator, and I am HERE for it!

After recovering, Harry was able to join One Direction in performing their hit song, “That’s What Makes You Beautiful.”

This funny moment is still shared online today, including a 2013 tweet that reads: “If you’re feeling rejected, remember that Harry Styles turned down a kiss from Miranda Cosgrove in the original script for the One Direction episode of iCarly.”

Let me tell you, back in 2012 after the Kids’ Choice Awards – the same event that brought Taylor Swift and Harry Styles together – I learned something pretty interesting. I was chatting with the Daily Mirror and revealed that one of the world’s biggest artists had a serious crush on Harry Styles. But, I was sworn to secrecy, so that’s all I can say! It was definitely a moment, though.

Harry told Seventeen magazine that summer how incredibly talented and genuinely kind Taylor Swift is. He said she’s “just a really sweet person.”

Their romance wasn’t expected to last, but Taylor was at One Direction’s first concert at Madison Square Garden that December – a show where Harry was playfully showered with bras, underwear, and even an iPhone. For a brief, exciting period, they were the biggest pop couple around, enjoying a public date in Central Park, a quick trip to Harry’s hometown, and a disastrous Caribbean vacation that ultimately left Taylor feeling isolated.

Looking back at pictures from that date, Harry Styles told Rolling Stone in 2017 that relationships are challenging no matter how old you are. He added that being 18 and figuring things out made it even harder. He explained that it should have been a simple date with someone he liked, but it was awkward at times. Ultimately, he said it was a valuable learning experience, and all he really wanted was for it to feel normal.

Harry Styles, when discussing Taylor Swift’s songs widely believed to be inspired by their relationship – like ‘Out of the Woods’ and ‘Style’ – shared that he feels fortunate if their experiences contributed to her music. He explained that those deeply personal and difficult-to-express feelings are what truly resonate with listeners, and are the topics he avoids discussing. He emphasized that those songs capture a connection between two people, and he intends to keep the full story private.

Asked if he had anything to tell Swift, he mused, “Certain things don’t work out. There’s a lot of things that can be right, and it’s still wrong. In writing songs about stuff like that, I like tipping a hat to the
time together.

You’re celebrating the fact it was powerful and made you feel something, rather than ‘this didn’t work out, and that’s bad.’ And if you run into that person, mayb

Harry likes snowboarding.

According to a source who spoke to TopMob News in January 2014, Harry and Kendall Jenner were enjoying each other’s company after being seen together in Mammoth Lakes. Kendall herself described Harry as a “cool” friend at the American Music Awards the previous November.

Harry also likes swimming. 

I’ve been following Harry and Kendall for years, and it all started with this really intriguing connection. It wasn’t always clear if they were just friends, but whatever it was, it took them all over – from sunny Southern California to beautiful islands like Anguilla and St. Barts. It’s been a long, fascinating journey to watch!

Harry Styles hinted in a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone that a more recent ex-girlfriend – possibly Kendall Jenner, following his relationship with Taylor Swift – heavily influenced his album. He explained that sometimes he prefers subtle acknowledgements in his music, and other times he wants to make it very clear who the song is about, hoping they’ll understand it’s a personal message.

Any photos circulating over the years that seemed to show Harry and Louis – or “Larry,” as fans nicknamed them – kissing were not real.

Harry Styles pointed out that a photo of him and Louis Tomlinson making faces at each other in a magazine was altered. “That is Photoshopped,” he said on the Australian show Sunrise, explaining that there was actually a woman present in the original scene.

Louis explained that this had happened to him and Niall too. He described how, when someone is being targeted, others will often isolate them. He thought it was a surprisingly effective tactic.

I remember it so clearly – it was 2014, and we were in the studio in London, which honestly felt like stepping back into the Beatles’ era. That’s when Harry first brought up the idea that One Direction maybe needed some time apart. It was a tough conversation, but he was the one who initially suggested a break.

We didn’t want to overwork our fans,” he explained to Rolling Stone. “It would have been easy to just keep touring, but we respected our audience and the band too much to do that. We knew we’d burn out, and we didn’t want people to lose faith in us.

Zayn’s friends supported his decision. He had been dealing with anxiety and relationship problems with his then-fiancée, Perrie Edwards – fueled by tabloid rumors of infidelity – and ultimately decided to leave the group in March 2015, initiating the band’s hiatus.

After Zayn Malik left One Direction, the remaining members announced in August 2015 that the band would be taking a break. Their final concert was held on October 31st, 2015, at Sheffield Arena in Britain, which was a particularly sad night for their devoted fans.

After Zayn Malik said One Direction’s songs weren’t very cool—specifically, that he wouldn’t put them on while having dinner with someone he was trying to impress—Harry Styles responded calmly and avoided any conflict.

Styles told Rolling Stone he was sad to hear how the person felt, but he always wishes the best for anyone pursuing their passion.

If you’re unhappy with what you’re doing, it’s perfectly okay to switch gears and pursue something else. I’m happy for him that he’s following his passions, and I wish him all the best.

He explained to Rolling Stone that he didn’t want to just write fictional stories for his first solo album, appropriately named Harry Styles. He wanted to share his personal experiences – the things that actually happened to him. His main goal was to be honest, something he hadn’t prioritized in his music before.

That being said, the game was on when it came to figuring out what, or who, he was singing about.

Harry explained that he intentionally keeps his personal and professional lives separate. He believes this helps him maintain a sense of balance and stay grounded. He doesn’t do it to create a persona or extend his career; he just wants to be himself, whether he’s at work or at home. He feels it’s important to have boundaries and enjoys switching between his different roles. He finds this balance incredibly fulfilling.

The songwriter explained to Rolling Stone that the song is told from the perspective of a mother experiencing a difficult childbirth. She’s told her baby is healthy, but she won’t survive. The song captures the mother’s final five minutes, where she encourages her child to live a full and successful life.

I’ve always been captivated by Harry Styles’ hair – it just looks amazing no matter how he styles it! It’s become something of a legend, and it’s no surprise. I remember reading this fascinating article in British Vogue where they actually photographed his dressing table before a Paris show. They counted seven different hair products he uses, plus a luxurious Tom Ford perfume, a Diptyque candle, and even Sunday Riley face oil. It really showed how much care and effort goes into his look, and honestly, it’s impressive!

Vogue beauty editor Lisa Niven playfully pointed out that Harry seems to have the self-care routine of a beauty expert—she especially appreciates his choice of Ouai hair products and Sunday Riley oil. She added with a smile, ‘Who wouldn’t want a Diptyque candle as part of their requests?’

Only a few million people noticed he’d gotten a haircut before he began actively promoting his music as a solo artist.

He told Vogue he initially felt vulnerable after deciding to shave his head. He explained it wasn’t a difficult choice, and the hair was ultimately used to create a wig.

Okay, let’s talk about something a little unexpected! You might be surprised to learn that Harry actually has four nipples. It’s a relatively rare thing, but he has an extra set of nipples located just below his usual ones. It’s a fascinating bit of human variation, really!

When Harry Styles was in One Direction, he was known for his casual style – tight pants and wrinkled T-shirts. But since then, he’s completely transformed his look, often wearing sharply tailored suits, stylish jackets, and other daring outfits. He’s even become a face for Gucci, appearing in two of their advertising campaigns.

Harry Styles shared with Entertainment Tonight that Shania Twain was a major influence on both his music and fashion. He simply called her ‘amazing’.

Wait, what? 

Growing up, my mom, Anne, loved listening to Shania Twain, Norah Jones, and Savage Garden throughout the ’90s. Meanwhile, my dad, Des, was teaching me all about rock and roll at home.

Harry balanced pursuing his music with acting, and in July 2017, he appeared in his first film: Christopher Nolan’s epic war movie, Dunkirk. The film was a critical success, receiving eight Academy Award nominations and winning three.

Harry Styles said that auditioning for Christopher Nolan was more challenging than auditioning for Simon Cowell. He explained on ITV’s This Morning that Nolan is incredibly reserved – he doesn’t offer any feedback during the audition, simply sitting silently in the back of the room. Styles described the experience as intensely nerve-wracking, leading to a lot of post-audition self-doubt.

At least he could rest assured that Nolan wasn’t giving him special treatment.

The director admitted to not fully realizing how well-known Harry was at the time of casting. While his children had mentioned him, he hadn’t paid close attention. Ultimately, he chose Harry because he was a perfect fit for the role and proved his talent during the audition process.

Styles admitted that walking onto the set of a big-budget war epic was a bit intimidating at first.

He was immediately struck by how large the production was, telling The Big Issue that ‘you walk onto set the first day and are just taken aback by everything.’ As it was his first film, he also had to quickly learn to manage the challenges—even the literal ones.

One particularly intense scene involved Harry Styles’ character, Alex, nearly drowning. Styles explained to USA Today that being underwater and acting out the scene made it feel very real, as he was genuinely aware of his limited breath. He recalled that before filming began in France, the crew questioned his swimming ability, and the shoot involved a lot of strenuous swimming – to the point they joked about whether he’d actually drown.

And…he’s funny, too. 

In 2017, Harry Styles was everywhere promoting his music, but he also proved he could host The Late, Late Show when James Corden was unavailable – he even mastered American-style political comedy! He filled in again in 2019. Interestingly, years earlier while looking for a house in England, Harry lived with Late, Late Show executive producer Ben Winston and his wife, Meredith, for almost two years, sleeping on a mattress in their attic.

He was away a lot, being a major pop star, but still.

Styles admitted he used to be too intimidated by Meredith to have guests over. However, Winston recalled that Styles wasn’t always solitary, and it was fun to see the famous people who would stay in the attic or hang out with them. They never talked shop, and Styles would act like his recent concerts for 80,000 fans in Rio de Janeiro hadn’t even happened.

In 2017, while appearing as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live with host Jimmy Fallon, Harry Styles playfully impersonated Mick Jagger. Later, in July 2018, he told Fallon on The Tonight Show that he’d love to host the show himself. Fallon jokingly pretended to faint, and Harry then comfortably took over as host behind the desk.

Styles returned to SNL as host and musical guest in 2019 and crushed it.

CBS’s show Happy Together, which marked Harry Styles’ debut as an executive producer on American television, was not renewed after airing its first season of 13 episodes.

After his first solo tour ended in July 2018, with nearly 1 million tickets sold across 89 shows, a total of $1.2 million was donated to charities. This amount came from a portion of the tour’s earnings, as well as contributions from Live Nation and the GLSEN PRIDE campaign.

Harry Styles’ career soared after he won his first Grammy in 2021 for his song “Watermelon Sugar,” earning him the Best Pop Solo Performance award. He continued his success two years later with his album Harry’s House, winning two Grammys in a row, including the prestigious Album of the Year. When accepting the Album of the Year award, he humbly shared, “This is so, so nice, and it doesn’t happen to people like me very often.”

Harry’s accomplishments go beyond his Grammy win. In 2020, he made history as the first solo male to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine.

Besides writing his own songs, Harry also co-wrote hits for other artists. He contributed to Ariana Grande’s popular song “Just a Little Bit of Your Heart,” and the track “Someday” by Meghan Trainor and Michael Bublé.

Most people know Harry Styles as a singer and actor – he even appeared in Olivia Wilde’s film, Don’t Worry Darling. But he considered other career paths too. In a 2020 interview with Ellen DeGeneres, he revealed he’d love to be a florist if he wasn’t a musician.

He also thought about becoming a physiotherapist. On BBC Radio 2’s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show in 2020, he explained he initially wanted to be a footballer, but wasn’t skilled enough. He then considered physiotherapy, but learned there weren’t many job opportunities in that field, so he pursued music instead.

Read More

2026-01-25 03:20