His Holiness Pope Francis' papal coat of arms and
motto are the same that he used as bishop. The shield has a bright blue
background, at the centre top of which is a yellow radiant sun with the IHS
christogram on it representing Jesus (it is also the Jesuit logo). The IHS
monogram, as well as a cross that pierces the H, are in red with three black
nails directly under them. Under that, to the left, is a star representing
Mary, Mother of Christ and the Church. To the right of the star is a nard
flower representing Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. With these symbols
the Pope demonstrates his love for the Holy Family.
What distinguishes his
coat of arms as pontiff is that, instead of the wide-brimmed, red cardinal's
hat atop the shield, it is now bears the same symbols of papal dignity as that
of Pope Benedict XVI: the papal mitre and crossed silver and gold keys joined by a
red cord.
His motto—“miserando atque eligendo” (because he saw him through
the eyes of mercy and chose him)—is taken from Venerable Bede's homily on
the Gospel account of the call of Matthew. It holds special meaning for the
Pope because—when he was only 17 years old, after going to confession on the
Feast of St. Matthew in 1953—he perceived God's mercy in his life and felt the
call to the priesthood, following the example of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
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