杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

The Holy See Press Office released the official explanation of 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV鈥檚 coat of arms on Wednesday.

In the explanation, Fr. Antonio Pompili, Vice President of the Italian Heraldic-Genealogical Institute, highlights its Marian and Augustinian elements.

The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 coat of arms includes the traditional papal symbols of the crossed keys of St. Peter and episcopal mitre.

The upper left-hand corner of the shield bears a silver fleur-de-lis set against a light blue background. On the bottom right, a red heart topped by a flame and pierced by an arrow sit atop a red book framed by an ivory background.

杏MAP导航 Leo XIV鈥檚 motto鈥擨N ILLO UNO UNUM (鈥淚n the One, we are one鈥�)鈥攕its at the bottom of the coat of arms.

The motto echoes St. Augustine鈥檚 sermon on Psalm 127, where he explains that 鈥渁lthough we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.鈥�

Fr. Pompili pointed out that the blue field evokes 鈥渢he heights of the heavens and is distinguished by its Marian significance, with the lily appearing as the classic symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary.鈥�

The opposite field, he noted, contains the heart enflamed and pierced by an arrow, which is the emblem of the Order of St. Augustine, of which 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV served as Prior General for two terms.

鈥淭his figure symbolically evokes Saint Augustine鈥檚 words in the Confessions: 鈥�Sagittaveras tu cor meum charitate tua鈥� (鈥淵ou pierced my heart with your love鈥�),鈥� explained Fr. Pompili.

From the 16th century on, the symbol has appeared in the Augustinian coat of arms.

It is typically accompanied by the open book, which symbolizes 鈥渢he Word of God that transforms every human heart, as it did Augustine鈥檚.鈥�

鈥淭he book also recalls the enlightened works that the Doctor of Grace bestowed upon the Church and humanity,鈥� noted Fr. Pompili. 鈥淲hite (in the papal arms rendered in ivory) recurs in many religious orders鈥� heraldry as a sign of holiness and purity.鈥�