Pope Leo Has Unveiled New Portrait, Signature, and Coat of Arms

Pope Leo XIV has unveiled his official portrait, coat of arms, and signature

Pope Leo XIV's official portrait (left) and his coat of arms (right). (Photo: Vatican News)

On May 8, the conclave elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the Catholic Church’s next pope, marking a historic moment for the papacy. Prevost, who has since taken the regnal name Pope Leo XIV, is the first pope from the United States. Because of this, his election came as a surprise, with his name being floated less frequently by experts than other leading candidates. Even so, in just a few short days, he’s already set the tone of his leadership, unveiling his official portrait, signature, and coat of arms.

The portrait showcases the 69-year-old pope donning a red mozzetta, an intricately embroidered stole, white rochet, and golden pectoral cross. Unlike his predecessor Pope Francis, who preferred a simpler presentation, Pope Leo’s clothing signals a return to traditional papal regalia, a move also reflected in his signature, which includes the notation “P.P.” The abbreviation has historically been used by popes to denote “Pastor Pastorum” (in Latin), or “Shepherd of Shepherds” in English. Pope Francis, however, departed from this convention, choosing only to sign with “Franciscus.”

Pope Leo’s coat of arms incorporates traditional imagery as well, offering what the Vatican’s official news outlet calls a “clear reflection of his Augustinian roots and the values he seeks to promote during his pontificate.” The shield is divided diagonally into two sections: the upper-half depicts a white lily blooming against a blue background, representing the Virgin Mary and the Holy Trinity. This fleur-de-lis, often featured in French heraldry, may also bear personal significance for the pope, given his French ancestry through his father’s side.

The lower-half of the coat of arms sees a burning heart being pierced by an arrow as it sits atop a red book, this time set against a cream-colored background. The symbolism recalls the dramatic conversion of Saint Augustine, who had described his personal encounter with God’s word with the phrase “you have pierced my heart with your Word.” The inclusion is a direct reference to Leo’s long-standing Augustinian connections, and the fact that he’s the first Augustinian friar to become pope.

Alongside the coat of arms, Pope Leo has revealed his motto, reflecting Augustinian tradition in equal measure. In Illo uno unum, translated as “in the One, we are one,” is pulled from Saint Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 127, and seemingly hints at the pope’s overarching message of global unity and cohesion even in the face of exceptional strife, whether within or beyond the Church.

“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,” Leo said in a 2023 interview with Vatican News. “So, as an Augustinian, for me promoting unity and communion is fundamental.”

Though born in Chicago, Pope Leo has Creole heritage, lived in Peru for decades and ultimately earned citizenship, and is fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese. Experts believe that this sense of multiculturalism was a major factor in his election—and in the global embrace that followed.

“He was born in the United States, but he spent most of his life outside of [the country] as a missionary, and also working in Italy [and] at the Vatican,” Kathleen Sprows Cummings, a professor at the University of Notre Dame, told People Magazine. “He’s really a bridge builder among three different continents, which is perfectly consistent with what the church needs.”

To learn more about Pope Leo XIV, visit the Vatican’s website.