Catholicism is fashionable, according to Vanity Fair.

Last month, Pope Leo XIV appeared on Vanity Fair magazine’s “Best Dressed” list in the “Most Original Dressers” section. José Criales-Unzueta, the style correspondent of Vanity Fair, wrote that the pope’s style showed “innate Americanness.”

Sophomore Isaac Trotter, a Catholic Society outreach board member for Simpson Residence, said young Americans are beginning to see the beauty in traditional church aesthetics.

“I think it’s amazing because it kind of shows the culture recognizing the traditional vestments worn by the pope specifically, but also Catholic clergy,” Trotter said. “I think often, priests and bishops and the pope can get clowned for wearing ‘ridiculous’ garb. But I think the culture is starting to recognize there’s a reason we are wearing this, and it actually elevates the liturgy. It also elevates the people around whoever’s wearing the garments because that’s what it’s designed to do.”

Catholicism offers a long tradition of symbolic dress that more Americans are beginning to appreciate, according to junior Christopher Ambuul. That tradition extends to the inside of Catholic churches.

“I know that I’m much more attracted to a beautiful church than one that’s just a box and has a stage,” Ambuul said. “But if it has beautiful architecture and statues and stained-glass windows, I think it’s far more likely to go somewhere beautiful, to actually do something beautiful, than to go somewhere ugly. And I think it’s a lot easier to do something beautiful when you’re in a beautiful environment.”

Senior Michael Bogumill, president of the Catholic Society, said the beauty of Catholic traditions should inspire Catholics to contemplate their fashion choices.

“The Lord created the world in a way that he could participate in his creation by making something beautiful,” Bogumill said. “He turns people’s eyes to Christ. As Christians, we’re supposed to take care of our appearance because we’re trying to attract people to Christ. That is an important part of apostolate, and includes reverence at church too.”

Converts to Catholicism at Hillsdale have increased in recent years. As reported by The Collegian, 31 people  — the most in the parish in 25 years — joined the local church, Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, last semester.

Trotter believes the trend of Gen Z and American culture recognizing and appreciating Catholic aesthetics and values will continue. At the same time, he hopes a love of simplicity remains.

“I think it’s part of a movement that is growing in the church of recognizing the beauty in more traditional things, and I think that is a growing movement in America,” Trotter said. “It includes recognizing the beauty of candles and decorative altar pieces and beautiful churches and religious and sacred art. I think it’s going to be part of a twofold process where people recognize the beauty of the treasures, and the elegance of the church in that sense. I hope eventually the church is able to also recognize the beauty in the simple as well, and those two things can sort of coexist.”

Trotter said he hopes Pope Leo’s selection represents more than the choice of a fashion magazine.

“Pope Leo being chosen as best dressed is really cool because I think it’s a signal of the culture recognizing the importance and elegance of the vestments that we do have as part of the treasures of the church.”