A silver lily and a burning heart pierced by an arrow and supported by a book. It is the coat of arms of Leo XIV Which shows “a shield stamped by a silver machine gun, adorned with three golden bands”, as explained by the press room of the Holy See which published the official explanation of the coat of arms of 267.Mo Pontiff drawn up by the vice -president of the Italian Genealogical Araldico Institute Don Antonio Pompili.
The pope’s blazon, “welcomed to the petrine keys”, linked by a red cordon, is divided into two parts, one with a blue background, “color that recalls the heights of the skies and is characterized by its Marian value, a classic symbol in reference to the Blessed Virgin Marythe lily (flos florum) “, the other” in ivory shades “, color that “It can be read as a symbol of holiness and purity”, where “the emblem of the Augustinian order stands out”, the heart pierced by an arrow placed on a book. “This figure symbolically represents the words of Sant’Agostino reported” in the Confessions (Ninth book, 2.3 editor’s note): “Sagittaveras tu cor Meum Charitate Tua”, “You wounded my heart with your love” “, specifies Don Pompili. The heart depicted in the papal coat of arms is an “element” that is “always present in the Emblem of the Augustinians” starting from the 16th century, “Despite the different variants, such as the presence of the book symbolizing the Word of God who can transform the hearts of every man, as it was for Agostino».
In addition, the vice -president of the Italian Heraldic Institute clarifies that “the book also recalls the illuminated works that the doctor of grace has given to the Church and humanity”. As for the motto, “In ILLO UNUM” (“In the only Christ we are one”)these are the “words spoken by Sant’Agostino in a sermon, (Exhibition on Psalm 127.3). With this expression the great father of the Church intends to specify that “although we Christians are many, in the only Christ we are one”.
