An image authentically shows Pope Leo XIV wearing Nike sneakers with his vestments.
The picture predates the papacy of Leo, whose real name is Robert Prevost.
In 2026, people shared an image allegedly showing Pope Leo XIV wearing Nike sneakers with his vestments.
For example, on May 9, an Instagram user shared (archived) the image with the caption, “Pope Leo XIV wearing Nikes with his vestments from ‘Leone a Roma’ Trailer by Vatican News (2026).”
(@durangoism via Instagram)
Other users shared the image on various social media platforms.
In today’s age of evolving artificial intelligence, some people might question the authenticity of such an image showing the man now serving as pope, whose real name is Robert Prevost, donning such casual footwear.
In short, the image is real and predates his time in the papacy. As some users’ posts said, the photo originated in “Leone a Roma,” a documentary released in 2026 that attempts to “retrace the years Robert Francis Prevost spent in the Eternal City” — a reference to Rome. Vogue identified the shoes as a pair of Nike Franchise Low Plus sneakers.
Snopes emailed the Holy See press office to ask for further information, including to confirm exactly when the photo was taken.
The picture appears at the 0:51 mark in the film’s trailer:
The same photo also makes an appearance during a montage in the full documentary (28:28). That montage begins with the brief onscreen title “World Youth Day 2008,” as well as pictures of people wearing clothing referencing that day, indicating someone possibly took the photo either at that specific gathering or another past youth event.
Leo also appeared on Vanity Fair’s 2026 “best dressed list,” with the publication referencing the photo with his “most memorable look,” reading, “Even prior to the papacy, Leo, FKA Father Bob, took his modest cream cassock to heavenly heights by pairing them with Nikes.” For his “fashion claim to fame,” the outlet wrote, “Leo has kept his sense of wry casualness, sometimes sporting baseball caps.”
For further reading, we previously investigated the claim that Leo said no one can use God to justify war, as well as the claim he used AI to write his first encyclical.
