New Pope reveals coat of arms and motto, reflecting Augustinian roots

Pope Leo XIV has unveiled his official coat of arms and motto, both of which draw deeply from his Augustinian roots and highlight key values he aims to promote during his papacy, particularly unity and communion within the Church.

The new Pope's coat of arms features a design that is rich in symbolism. The shield is divided into two parts, with the upper half showcasing a blue background and a white lily, symbolising purity and the Virgin Mary. The lower section presents an image that directly references the Order of Saint Augustine — a closed book with a heart pierced by an arrow, Caliber.Az reports, citing Vatican media.

This design evokes the powerful conversion experience of Saint Augustine, who famously described his encounter with God’s Word using the words, “Vulnerasti cor meum verbo tuo” — "You have pierced my heart with your Word."

In addition to the coat of arms, Pope Leo XIV has chosen a motto that further underscores his Augustinian heritage: In Illo uno unum, which translates to "In the One, we are one." This phrase, drawn from Saint Augustine's Exposition on Psalm 127, emphasises the theological idea that although Christians are many, in the one Christ, they are united as one body.

The Pope's choice of this motto reflects the deep significance of unity and communion in his vision for the Church. In a 2023 interview with Vatican News, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who became Pope Leo XIV, spoke about the importance of promoting communion. "Unity and communion are truly part of the charism of the Order of Saint Augustine, and also of my way of acting and thinking,” he explained. "I believe it is very important to promote communion in the Church, and we know well that communion, participation, and mission are the three key words of the Synod."

Saint Augustine's reflection on Psalm 127, which serves as the foundation for the motto, emphasises the theological unity of the Church: "Christ - head and body - is one single man. And what is the body of Christ? His Church,” Augustine wrote. "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."

By Khagan Isayev