Vatican Releases Official Portrait Of Pope Leo XIV

The Vatican has officially unveiled the portrait, signature, and coat of arms of Pope Leo XIV, just days after his historic election as the first U.S.-born pontiff.

The 69-year-old, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, has embraced traditional papal symbolism, signaling a shift from the simpler style of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

In the formal portrait, Pope Leo XIV wears the red mozzetta, embroidered stole, white rochet, and a golden pectoral cross — garments rich in papal tradition. His signature includes the abbreviation “P.P.” (Pastor Pastorum, meaning “Shepherd of Shepherds”), a convention Pope Francis had set aside.

His coat of arms blends symbolic elements reflecting his heritage and spiritual foundation. It features a fleur-de-lis on a blue background, representing the Virgin Mary and purity, alongside the Sacred Heart of Jesus on a book — a nod to the Augustinian Order.

The fleur-de-lis also connects to French heraldry, referencing the pope’s paternal ancestry.

The motto beneath the shield, “In illo uno unum” (“In the one Christ we are one”), is drawn from St. Augustine and underscores Leo’s Augustinian roots and focus on Church unity.

These early symbols offer a glimpse into the new pope’s theological priorities and pastoral vision.

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Photo Source: Celebrazioni Papali