Pope Leo XIV waving from a balcony.

PRAISE be! This gives a whole new meaning to the term dog collar – pet pooches dressed up as the Pope.

On Thursday, when Pope Leo XIV was declared the new leader of the Catholic Church, he donned the classic red and gold attire that his predecessor, Pope Francis, had set aside.

Pope Leo XIV waving from a balcony.
Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, has become the first American popeCredit: Reuters

This likely delighted the owners of these devout dogs, who believed that resembling the supreme pontiff required a wardrobe full of grandeur.

In 2015, when Francis visited the US, there was a trend for dressing up dogs to look like the Vatican chief.

Now that Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, from Chicago, has become the first American pope, that congregation is sure to grow.

Meryl Espiniero from New York even dressed her dog, Romeo Valentino, in papal attire at St Peter’s Square in Rome as she awaited the conclave’s decision this week.

Here, Grant Rollings presents our top of the papal pups.

Claire Byrne shares bizarre way she calms down her dog live on air
Dog dressed as the Pope.
In 2015, when Pope Francis visited the US, there was a trend for dressing up dogs to look like the Vatican chiefCredit: Reddit/Splitpics UK
Dog dressed as the Pope.
The hound is a top papal pupCredit: Reddit/Splitpics UK
Dog dressed as the Pope.
This dog has a paw print shawlCredit: Reddit/Splitpics UK
Corgi dog dressed as the Pope.
This pup donned a marvellous zucchettoCredit: Reddit/Splitpics UK
A small white dog dressed in a pope costume.
This small white dog is well kitted outCredit: Reddit/Splitpics UK
Dog dressed as the Pope.
This puppy has a patterned zucchetto hatCredit: Reddit/Splitpics UK
Dog dressed as the Pope.
This happy dog looks very holyCredit: Reddit/Splitpics UK
Yorkshire terrier dressed as the Pope.
This dog had a cross made of bones on his vestCredit: Reddit/Splitpics UK
French bulldog dressed as the Pope.
This dog pope photo was also shared onlineCredit: Reddit/Splitpics UK
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