Pope Leo XIV
Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost
Elected May 8, 2025
Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV’s coat of arms
Pope Leo XIV’s Motto and Coat of Arms
Pope Leo XIV reveals his coat of arms and motto, which clearly reflect his Augustinian roots.
Pope Leo XIV’s coat of arms offers a clear reflection of his Augustinian roots and the values he seeks to promote during his pontificate, particularly unity and communion within the Church.
The shield is divided diagonally into two sections. The upper half features a blue background with a white lily.
The lower half of the shield has a light background and displays an image that recalls the Order of Saint Augustine: a closed book with a heart pierced by an arrow. This is a direct reference to the conversion experience of Saint Augustine himself, who described his personal encounter with God’s Word using the phrase: “Vulnerasti cor meum verbo tuo” – “You have pierced my heart with your Word.”
The motto
Pope Leo XIV has also chosen a motto that reflects this Augustinian tradition: In Illo uno unum, which means “In the One, we are one.” The phrase is taken from Saint Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 127, where he explains that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.”
In a 2023 interview with Vatican News’ Tiziana Campisi, then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost spoke about the significance of this motto: “As can be seen from my episcopal motto, unity and communion are truly part of the charism of the Order of Saint Augustine, and also of my way of acting and thinking,” he said. “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. So, as an Augustinian, for me promoting unity and communion is fundamental.”
Saint Augustine’s reflection on Psalm 127 highlights the theological foundation of this idea. “Christ – head and body – is one single man. And what is the body of Christ? His Church,” Augustine writes. He then adds, “Although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one. We are many and we are one – because we are united to Him, and if our Head is in heaven, the members will follow.”
Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV
Celebrated by the Most Reverend Gerard W. Battersby, Bishop of La Crosse
Thursday, May 15, 2025 | 6pm | Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman
Photos of Pope Leo XIV
Additional Photos of Pope Leo XIV
Catholic News Service
Interview with then Fr. Robert Prevost, OSA in 2012. The interview is wide-ranging and includes his thoughts on critical thinking regarding fake news and the internet, vocations, etc.
An excerpt of Pope Leo XIV’s first Message as pope to Rome and to the World
“God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God’s hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and each other — let us go forward. We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us.
The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to be reached by God and his love. Help us also, and then help each other to build bridges, with dialogue, with encounter, uniting us all to be one people always at peace.” (May 8, 2025)
Habemus Papam We Have a Pope pdf
Apostolic Succession Jesus founded the Catholic Church on Peter and the Apostles. The Pope and Bishops are their successors.
An excerpt of Pope Leo XIV’s homily at his first Mass as pope delivered to the cardinal electors
“God has called me by your election to succeed the Prince of the Apostles, and has entrusted this treasure to me so that, with His help, I may be its faithful administrator (cf. 1 Cor 4:2) for the sake of the entire mystical Body of the Church. He has done so in order that She may be ever more fully a city set on a hill (cf. Rev 21:10), an ark of salvation sailing through the waters of history and a beacon that illumines the dark nights of this world…through the holiness of her members. For we are the people whom God has chosen as His own, so that we may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (cf. 1 Pet 2:9).” (May 9, 2025)
14 things to know about Pope Leo XIV
1. Robert Francis Prevost was born on Sept. 14, 1955, in Chicago to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martín and John Joseph.
8. He served extensively in Peru from 1985 to 1998, working as a parish pastor, seminary teacher, and diocesan official. He was also part of the leadership of Caritas Peru, the Church’s charitable organization.
2. His father was a World War II Navy veteran and school superintendent; his mother was a librarian who was very involved in parish life.
9. After being elected the head of the Augustinian Province of Chicago, he returned to the U.S. in 1999. He was elected prior general of the Augustinians in 2001 and then reelected in 2007, serving as head of the order until 2013.
3. The new pope speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese.
10. Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator and then bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014 and 2015 respectively, and received episcopal consecration on Dec. 12, 2014, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Chiclayo.
4. He earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from Villanova University in 1977 before pursuing his religious vocation.
11. He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis on Sept. 30, 2023.
5. He completed his secondary studies at the minor seminary of the Augustinians in 1973 in Michigan. In 1977, he became a member of the Order of St. Augustine and took his solemn vows in 1981.
12. While serving the Church in Peru, Francis made him a member of the Dicastery for the Clergy in 2019 and then a member of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2020. In 2023, Francis made him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
6. He completed a master of divinity degree at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and earned a licentiate and doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He went on to teach canon law in seminaries during his time in Peru.
13. His episcopal motto — which is a bishop’s personal motto — is “In illo uno unum,” which means “In the one Christ we are one,” reflecting his commitment to unity.
7. He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, by Archbishop Jean Jadot in Rome.
14. Prior to becoming pope, he had an active X account — the first to have his own social media account before becoming pope.
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