You’ve seen it. It’s everywhere. That specific picture of the new pope, Leo XIV, looking remarkably human while standing next to a massive mosaic of himself. It’s one of those images that sticks in your brain. He’s smiling, but you can see the exhaustion in his eyes. There is a specific kind of weight that comes with being the first American pontiff in history, and honestly, the camera didn’t hide it.
Ever since Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost stepped onto that balcony in May 2025, the world has been obsessed with his image. It makes sense. We went from the long, transformative era of Pope Francis to a sudden, sharp transition. Now, in early 2026, every time a new photo drops, the internet loses its mind. But there is a massive difference between the official shots and the weird, AI-generated fakes that keep popping up on your feed.
The Truth Behind the Official Mosaic Photo
Let’s talk about the photo from January 14, 2026. This isn't just a candid snap. It’s a moment of tradition meeting reality. Pope Leo XIV was visiting the Vatican Mosaic Studio to see his official portrait—a "tondo"—that will eventually hang in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
If you look closely at the real picture of the new pope from that day, you'll notice a few things. First, he was actually nursing a cold. Vatican Media reported it, and you can see it in the slight puffiness around his eyes. He’s 70 now. He’s not a young man, even if he’s "young" by papal standards. Second, the mosaic itself is a beast. It’s roughly 54 inches of gold, glass, and enamel. Standing next to it, the Pope looks almost small.
It’s a bizarre contrast. You have this ancient, glittering, eternal image of "The Pope" and then you have Robert Prevost—a guy from Chicago who spent years as a missionary in Peru—just standing there in his white cassock.
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Why we are so obsessed with his face
People want to see the "American" in him. It sounds silly, but it’s true. Every picture of the new pope is scanned for clues. Is he too "corporate"? Is he too much of a diplomat? He was the Prefect for the Dicastery for Bishops, so he knows how to handle power. But in the photos where he’s meeting people—like the surprise audience with Venezuelan leader María Corina Machado just a few days ago—he looks different. He looks like a pastor.
Spotting the Fakes: Don’t Get Fooled by the Deepfakes
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. If you saw a picture of the new pope falling down the stairs of St. Peter’s, or one where he’s wearing a Balenciaga-style puffer jacket, it was fake.
Total lies.
The Vatican is actually struggling with this. Since June 2025, AI-generated images of Leo XIV have been flooding YouTube and X (formerly Twitter). Some are harmless, but others are meant to cause chaos. There was one viral video that claimed he was resigning already. Another showed him "breaking his silence" on a high-profile murder case in the States.
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Basically, if the lighting looks a little too perfect or his fingers look like overcooked sausages, it’s probably AI. The Holy See even put out a newsletter from the Dicastery for Communication warning people to stick to official sources.
The "Hospital Bed" Rule
Here is a bit of expert trivia for you: you will almost never see a real picture of the new pope in a hospital bed. Why? Because of a 1996 rule set by Pope John Paul II called Universi Dominici Gregis. It explicitly forbids anyone from photographing a pope while they are sick or dying.
Back in 1958, a shady doctor tried to sell photos of a dying Pope Pius XII to magazines. It was a total scandal. Since then, the Church has been incredibly protective. When Pope Francis was ill in early 2025, people were sharing AI images of him on a respirator. Those were 100% fake. If Leo XIV ever gets seriously ill, you won't see a photo of it. You’ll get a dry, two-paragraph statement from the Vatican press office instead.
What the Clothes Tell Us
In the newest photos from the 2026 New Year’s Mass, you might have noticed his staff. It’s not the flashy, ornate one you might expect. It’s simpler.
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Prevost—sorry, Pope Leo—is lean. He’s kept a lot of his Augustinian roots. His coat of arms even features a heart pierced by an arrow, which is a total Saint Augustine move. When you see a picture of the new pope in his full liturgical gear, he isn't trying to look like a king. He’s trying to look like a servant.
- The Smile: He smiles with his mouth, but his brow is usually furrowed.
- The Hands: He uses them a lot when he talks. He’s a communicator.
- The Setting: He’s increasingly photographed in "working" settings—desks, libraries, small chapels—rather than just big balconies.
Moving Beyond the Image
So, what do you actually do with all this? If you’re following the papacy of Leo XIV, stop trusting every "breaking news" image that hits your feed.
- Check the Source: If it’s not from Vatican Media, Catholic News Agency (CNA), or a reputable outlet like the Associated Press, be skeptical.
- Look at the Ears and Hands: AI still struggles with the complex anatomy of the human ear and the way skin folds around knuckles.
- Read the Motto: Every official picture of the new pope released by the Vatican usually includes his motto: In Illo uno unum ("In the One, we are one"). If that’s missing on a "formal" portrait, it’s a red flag.
The transition from Francis to Leo XIV is the biggest religious story of the decade. The images we see define how a billion people view their leader. Just make sure the leader you’re looking at is actually the real guy from Chicago, not a series of pixels cooked up by a server in a basement.
To stay updated on the most recent verified imagery, you should regularly check the official Vatican News photo gallery. It’s the only way to ensure you’re seeing the historical record as it actually happens, rather than the distorted version designed for clicks.