Spanish
Vatican City.- This Saturday, the coat of arms and motto of Pope Leo XIV, as well as the official image of the new elected Pontiff, were published.
The shield is divided diagonally into two sectors: the upper part has a blue background and presents a white lily; the lower part has a light background and presents an image reminiscent of the Order of Saint Augustine: a closed book in which there is a heart pierced by an arrow.
The image recalls the experience of the conversion of Saint Augustine which he himself explained with the words «Vulnerasti cor meum verbo tuo», «You have pierced my heart with your Word».
These are the words that Saint Augustine pronounced in a sermon, the Exposition of Psalm 127, to explain that "although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one."
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In an interview with media from the Vatican in July 2023, then-Cardinal Prevost explained: "As can be seen from my episcopal motto, unity and communion are part of the charism of the Order of Saint Augustine and also of my way of acting and thinking. I believe it is fundamental to promote communion in the Church, and we know well that communion, participation, and mission are the three key words of the Synod. Therefore, as an Augustinian, for me, promoting unity and communion is fundamental. Saint Augustine speaks a lot about unity in the Church and the need to live it."
