Pope Leo XIV’s Coat of Arms reflects Love for Mary and St. Augustine

Pope Leo XIV’s official coat of arms has been released, and it shows his deep love for the Blessed Virgin Mary and his spiritual connection with St. Augustine. The Holy See Press Office published the explanation on Wednesday. Fr. Antonio Pompili, Vice President of the Italian Heraldic-Genealogical Institute, shared the meaning behind each part of the design, according to Vatican News. “This coat of arms tells us about the Pope’s heart,” said Fr. Pompili. “It shows who he is and what he believes.” The shield features two main symbols: In the upper left corner, there is a silver lily on a li

Pope Leo XIV’s official coat of arms has been released, and it shows his deep love for the Blessed Virgin Mary and his spiritual connection with St. Augustine. The Holy See Press Office published the explanation on Wednesday. Fr. Antonio Pompili, Vice President of the Italian Heraldic-Genealogical Institute, shared the meaning behind each part of the design, according to Vatican News. “This coat of arms tells us about the Pope’s heart,” said Fr. Pompili. “It shows who he is and what he believes.” The shield features two main symbols: In the upper left corner, there is a silver lily on a light blue background. The silver lily is a symbol of the Virgin Mary. “The blue color reminds us of heaven and the lily is a classic sign of Mary’s purity and grace,” explained Fr. Pompili. In the bottom right, there is a red heart on a red book. The heart has a flame on top and an arrow through it. The flaming heart and arrow come from the symbol of the Order of St. Augustine, the religious order where Pope Leo XIV served as leader for two terms. “This heart reminds us of St. Augustine’s words: ‘You pierced my heart with your love,’” said Fr. Pompili, quoting from Augustine’s famous Confessions. The book under the heart stands for the Bible and for St. Augustine’s many writings. “The open book shows how God’s word changes the human heart, just as it changed Augustine’s,” Fr. Pompili added. The coat of arms also includes the traditional papal symbols: the crossed keys of St. Peter and the bishop’s mitre. At the bottom, the Pope’s motto is written in Latin: IN ILLO UNO UNUM, which means “In the One, we are one.” It comes from a sermon by St. Augustine and reflects the Pope’s desire for unity among all Christians. “Although we are many, in the one Christ we are one,” said Fr. Pompili. “This is the heart of Pope Leo XIV’s mission.” The design uses colors and symbols from Church tradition to tell the story of a man deeply devoted to God, Mary, and the teachings of St. Augustine.