Coat of Arms of Pope Leo XIV, New Pope of the Catholic Church

 

The coat of arms of Pope Leo XIV consists of a shield divided into two sections, each bearing a profound message.

On the left side, against a blue background, a stylized white lily appears—a traditional symbol of purity and innocence. This flower, frequently associated with the Virgin Mary, immediately evokes the Marian dimension of the Pope’s spirituality. This is not merely a devotional reminder, but a clear indication of the central role Mary occupies in the Church’s journey: a model of listening, humility, and total offering to God.

On the right side of the shield, set against a white field, is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced by an arrow and resting upon a closed book. This image, intense and rich with meaning, recalls the mystery of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice—a heart pierced out of love for humanity—but also the Word of God, symbolized by the closed book. That unopened book suggests that divine truth is sometimes veiled, to be received with faith even when it is not fully revealed. It is an invitation to trust and surrender, to persevere in seeking the deeper meaning of Scripture, even in times of darkness.

The motto chosen by Pope Leo XIV, “In Illo uno unum”—taken from Saint Augustine’s commentary on Psalm 127—summarizes the heart of his message: “In Him who is One, we are one.” These words reflect an ideal of a united Church, despite the differences and tensions that inevitably cross through it. It is an expression of communion founded not on uniformity, but on encounter through the love of Christ, which makes fraternity and reconciliation possible even in the most complex contexts. Not by chance, in his greeting to the Church and the world, Pope Leo XIV spoke of this: of a bridge-Church, called to overcome divisions, to create spaces for encounter, listening, and mercy.

Ultimately, through his coat of arms and motto, the new Pontiff proposes a vision of a missionary, Marian Church, deeply rooted in the love of Christ—a Church willing to suffer and fully commit to the service of God’s people, with the awareness that only in unity with the Lord can all diversity find harmony.

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