A Latin motto at the heart of the pontificate
As soon as his election was announced, Pope Leo XIV unveiled a brief but profound motto: In Illo Uno Unum, which in Latin means "One in Him who is One". Just three words, but of immense theological and spiritual density. The phrase is directly inspired by Christ's prayer in the Gospel according to Saint John (17:21): "That they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, that they may all be one in us."
In choosing this motto, Leo XIV was not proposing a political slogan or a simplified message, but an invitation to unity rooted in God, a unity that comes not from human efforts or a fragile consensus, but from a deep spiritual communion with Christ.
A call for unity in a divided world
The world in which Leo XIV began his pontificate was marked by fractures: wars, social tensions, ecclesial divisions, ideological polarisation. In the face of this, his motto did not sound naïve, but like a prophetic compass. It is not a question of merging or levelling differences, but of rediscovering an inner unity, a common belonging, in the One who is the source of all peace: Christ.
For the Pope, this unity is not to be built by human strategies, but to be welcomed as a gift from God. It begins in the heart, in prayer, in mutual recognition between brothers. It invites us to move from confrontation to communion.
An ecclesial vision inspired by Saint Augustine
"In Illo Uno Unum" is also a motto that is part of the Augustinian tradition. Saint Augustine, a major source of inspiration for Pope Leo XIV, spoke of unity as a fruit of divine charity. It is not uniformity that makes for unity, but love received and shared in God. In Christ, all differences can coexist without opposing each other.
Leon XIV takes up this logic to think about the unity of the Church: a Church where the diversity of cultures, liturgies, charisms and vocations does not divide, but reveals the richness of the Spirit. He invites us to go beyond ideological divisions, to reject the labels of "progressive" or "conservative", and to rediscover the living centre: Christ, "He who is One".
A pastoral and missionary direction
This motto is not just a spiritual ideal, it guides all the pastoral action of Pope Leo XIV. In his first audiences and homilies, he constantly reminded us that the Church must be a sign of unity for humanity, not a group closed in on itself. He encouraged priests, religious and lay people to forge links, build bridges and move away from sterile oppositions.
In his first appointments, he sought to put together diverse, open teams that were representative of the local Churches. He insists on collegial governance, mutual listening and an exercise of power rooted in service.
A spiritual horizon for all humanity
Finally, "In Illo Uno Unum" goes beyond the visible boundaries of the Church. It is also a word offered to all, believers and non-believers alike. It affirms that a divided humanity can only survive if it finds a transcendent centre, a source of reconciliation. For Leo XIV, this centre is Christ, but he invites everyone to seek that place of unity where we are no longer against the other, but with.
His motto is thus a cry of hope, a call to fraternity, peace and patience. It reminds us that the Pope's role is not to reign, but to unite, gently and in truth.
