Pope Leo XIV’s coat of arms offers a clear reflection of his Augustinian roots and the values he seeks to promote during his pontificate, particularly unity and communion within the Church.
The shield is divided diagonally into two sections.
THE SILVER FLEUR-DE-LYS
This is a popular Marian icon, (though it can also refer to the Trinity). This is indicative of the Pope’s devotion to the Virgin Mary.
This was evident from his first appearance, when he referred to the Madonna of Pompei and asked the crowd to recite an Ave Maria with him.
THE AUGUSTINIAN EMBLEM
The lower half of the shield has a light background and displays an image that recalls the Order of Saint Augustine: a closed book with a heart pierced by an arrow. This is a direct reference to the conversion experience of Saint Augustine himself, who described his personal encounter with God’s Word using the phrase: “Vulnerasti cor meum verbo tuo” – “You have pierced my heart with your Word.”
MOTTO: IN ILLO UNO UNUM
His moto, taken from a linena sermon by St Augustine: “Nos muli in lo uno unum,” (“Though we are many, in the one Chist we are one”). Before becoming Pope, he served as the prior general of the Augustinian order for 12 years.
Pope Leo XIV has chosen to follow in the steps of both his Predecessors, Benedict XVI and Francis, by adapting his Coat of Arms from when he was a Cardinal into his Papal Coat of Arms.
SYMBOLS OF PAPAL DIGNITY
The same symbols used by his predecessor Francis – the mitre above (symbolizing papal authority) crossed keys of gold (representing spiritual power) and silver (representing temporal power), bound by a red cord (signifying unity and bond between spiritual and temporal aspects) signify the authority entrusted to Peter’s successor, representing the Pope’s role as the supreme leader of the Church and his connection to the apostolic lineage.
Discussion about this post