The Vatican publishes the official shield of Pope Leo XIV, linked to San Agustín

The Vatican has published the image of the official shield and the pontifical motto of Leo XIV, the same one that he chose when he was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo, whose visual and symbolic elements reveal a strong spiritual and intellectual connection with St. Augustine, a key figure in the life and formation of the new Pope.

The new Pontiff has preferred to maintain both his episcopal shield and his motto In that one one (“In him, he is one, we are one”). These words come from a homily from St. Augustine about Psalm 127, and express a deeply unitary ecclesiological vision: “Although Christians are many, in the only Christ we are one.” A statement that, according to Vatican News, clearly reflects the pastoral vocation of the new Pope, marked by the search for unity and communion within the people of God.

The pontifical shield retains the essential form and elements of the blazon that the then Bishop Robert Prevost adopted in his episcopal consecration. It is diagonally divided into two fields. The upper sector, in blue background, shows a white lily, a traditional symbol of purity and reference to the Virgin Mary. The lower sector, on a clear background, contains the image of a closed book – symbol of the sacred writing – with a heart pierced by an arrow supported on it. This emblem, deeply linked to the charism of the Augustinians, refers to the conversion of St. Augustine, who described his spiritual experience with the words: “Vulnesti Cor Meum verb tuo” (“You have hurt my heart with your word”).

Promote unity, fundamental

In an interview with Vatican News In July 2023, then Cardinal Prevost had already explained the importance of these symbols: “As you deduce my episcopal motto, unity and communion are part of the charism of the order of St. Augustine, and also in my way of acting and thinking. Promoting communion in the church is essential. We know well that communion, participation and mission are the three key words of the synod.”

“For me, as Augustine, promoting unity is fundamental. San Agustín speaks a lot of unity in the Church and the need to live it,” he added in this regard.

With this shield and motto, Leo XIV declares “his faithfulness to the tradition of his order” and also ensures “his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary,” according to Aci Press, Fr. Davide Spinelli, an ecclesiastical heraldic expert

“The White Lily is a symbol of purity and innocence. It is a Marian symbol par excellence and, in this case, clearly refers to the devotion of the Pope to the Virgin Mary,” adds Father Spinelli.

Thus, it indicates that it is no accident that the Pope has been chosen on October 8, a date dedicated to the supplication of the Virgen del Rosario de Pompeya, a very popular prayer written by Blessed Bartolo Longo, founder of the sanctuary.

“Everything has a meaning. He is a Marian man, as already noticed when he prayed the Ave Maria from the central balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro,” he insisted.

On the lower part of the shield, the expert explained we see a representation reminiscent of the shield of the order of San Agustín. “The closed book represents the Holy Scripture, and the heart crossed by an arrow is a direct reference to the Augustinian phrase: ‘You were a lightning light in my heart with your word.’ It is the symbol of a conversion that touches the heart and inflames it with the love of God,” he explained.

Fr. Spinelli also stressed that the shield “perfectly expresses the personality of St. Augustine, who sought the truth even by wrong paths until finding God and becoming totally to him.”

Likewise, the expert observed that it is not a novelty that the Leo XIV has confirmed the previous shield, the same one that he chose for his episcopal consecration. “This is common in potatoes: maintain both the shield and the motto, which in this case has great theological depth,” he explains.

Regarding motto In that one oneFr. Spinelli said it is “an expression taken from a comment from San Agustín to Psalm 127 that” synthesizes his vision. “

“The Trinity is a single God in three people; in the same way, the Church, although diverse and sometimes tension, is called to be only in the love of Christ,” the heraldist determined who also highlighted the actuality of the Pontiff’s message.

“Only if we remain united in the love of Christ is possible fraternity, reconciliation, especially in this complex time that the Church lives. It is no accident that the greeting of Pope Leo XIV from the lodge included that definition of the Church as a bridge: called to overcome divisions, to be a space of encounter, mercy and listening,” he concluded.