A simple accessory on the Pope's wrist was enough to spark a storm of commentary. As Pope Leo XIV celebrated one of his first Masses, internet users were astonished to discover a decidedly 21st-century object adorning his liturgical vestments. Let's take a closer look at this striking contrast between tradition and modernity.
We are used to seeing the head of the Catholic Church adorned with precious vestments, sumptuous fabrics, and gestures inherited from centuries-old traditions. Yet, a recent image of Pope Leo XIV has caused a stir: it reveals, on his wrist, an everyday object worn by millions of people. It is an Apple Watch, whose rectangular screen and black band contrast sharply with the immaculate white of his cassock. A detail that has not gone unnoticed.

