A visual and spiritual language
Every pope, from the beginning of his pontificate, chooses a coat of arms and a motto that convey his vision of the Church and his spiritual mission. Much more than mere ornaments, these elements constitute a symbolic profession of faith, a silent but powerful message intended to guide the faithful throughout their pontificate. For Leo XIV, this language takes on a particular resonance: a man of prayer, but also a man of strong words and simple gestures, he wanted everything in his coat of arms to express his fidelity to the Gospel, his passion for unity and his concern for the peripheries.
His coat of arms and motto were not designed to flatter or impress, but to enlighten. They tell the story of a journey: that of a pastor rooted in tradition, but looking to the future.
A coat of arms rich in meaning
The coat of arms of Leo XIV is made up of three main elements.
In the centre, we discover a descending dove, wings spread, holding an olive branch. It symbolises both the Holy Spirit, a source of inspiration, and peace, which the Pope wants to promote in a divided world. It also evokes the episode of the flood, when the dove announces a new earth: a powerful image for a pontificate focused on reconciliation, reparation and hope.
On the right, we recognise Saint Augustine's Flaming Heart, a direct reference to the new pope's spirituality. The fire represents burning love for God and mankind; the heart, the inner life and the quest for truth. By incorporating this figure into his coat of arms, Leo XIV is joining a line of pastors driven by a living, incarnate faith that is never lukewarm.
On the left is a vine branch, rooted and full of bunches. It echoes the words of Christ: "I am the vine, you are the branches". This symbol evokes communion in the Church, but also the spiritual fruitfulness of a faith lived in connection with Christ. It reminds us that the Pope is nothing without the faithful, and that all true authority is relational.
A simple and luminous motto: In Veritate et Caritate
The motto chosen by Leo XIV, In Veritate et Caritate (In truth and charity), reflects his style: clear, direct and profoundly evangelical. It is inspired by the Epistle to the Ephesians (Eph 4:15), in which Saint Paul exhorts Christians to grow towards Christ by uniting the true word with authentic love.
In a world fragmented between excess of harshness and excess of complacency, this motto charts a demanding course. For Leo XIV, truth can never be used as a weapon, but neither must it be diluted. It must be spoken in love, borne of sincere attention to others, capable of consoling as well as correcting.
This motto also sums up his desire for reform: not a superficial reform, but a return to the essentials. To speak the truth of the Gospel, in all its force, but to do so with the charity of Christ.
A unity between style, message and symbol
What is striking about the choice of Leo XIV's coat of arms and motto is their consistency with the man and his witness to faith. Everything is linked: the dove expresses the peace he sought to build; the heart on fire recalls his spiritual heritage; the vine symbolises ecclesial communion. As for the motto, it reflects his way of speaking, governing and listening.
The coat of arms is not a fixed image, but a call. It invites everyone to enter a Church that breathes, that welcomes, that allows itself to be transformed by the Spirit. It gives visible form to an invisible intuition: that the Pope is not a master, but a brother guided by the love of Christ.
A landmark for the future
In these uncertain times, the coat of arms and motto of Leo XIV become landmarks. They guide his pontificate towards light, truth, mercy and communion. They remind us that the Church is not an isolated bastion, but a living vine, inhabited by the fire of the Spirit and the tenderness of God.
Through these symbols, Leo XIV lays the foundations of a humble and inspired pontificate, capable of speaking to the heart of the world without betraying the Gospel. Like a seal engraved in prayer, his coat of arms becomes the discreet but profound face of his mission.
