Following Catholic tradition, each pope has a coat of arms and a motto that reflect his principles, mission and spirituality. The Pope, has kept his cardinal coat of arms but with slight modifications.
Newsdesk (11/05/2025 19:25, Gaudium Press) 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.
A shield divided diagonally, with the upper left field on a blue background and the lower right field in white, is the centrepiece of the coat of arms. In the blue part, a colour linked to Marian devotion, a white fleur-de-lis stands out, symbolising purity.
In the white part is the heart of St Augustine pierced by an arrow on the Bible, recalling the conversion of the founder of the Augustinians, which took place after studying the Sacred Scriptures. His heart was pierced by the arrow of faith and burnt by Jesus.
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.”
Pope Leo XIV has also chosen a motto that reflects this Augustinian tradition: In Illo uno unum, which means “In the One, we are one.” The phrase is taken from Saint Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 127, where he explains that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.”
Saint Augustine’s reflection on Psalm 127 highlights the theological foundation of this idea. “Christ – head and body – is one single man. And what is the body of Christ? His Church,” Augustine writes. He then adds, “Although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one. We are many and we are one – because we are united to Him, and if our Head is in heaven, the members will follow.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Gaudium Press Portuguese and Vatican News
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