Pope Leo XIV Unveils His Floral Coat of Arms – Deets Here

By Jill Brooke

Pope Leo XIV has unveiled his floral coat of arms. It is now on display at the Vatican in front of the Governor’s Palace, descending toward the apse of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Throughout history, flowers have served as poignant symbols in the lives of various popes, reflecting their personal devotions, national identity, or spiritual values.

Pope Leo XIII, known for his deep Marian devotion and scholarly disposition, incorporated a white lily into his papal coat of arms—an enduring emblem of purity and virtue. The lily not only honored the Virgin Mary but also conveyed his aspiration for moral renewal and clarity in an era of growing social change.

Similarly, Pope John Paul II had a deep connection with white lilies, often associated with the Virgin Mary, whom he revered profoundly. Pope Benedict XVI was frequently linked with roses, symbolizing both beauty and theological depth—hallmarks of his reflective and doctrinal papacy. Pope Francis, in contrast, embraces floral simplicity; wildflowers and white daisies have been used in his liturgical settings to echo his humility, concern for the marginalized, and love for creation. Even during major papal ceremonies and canonizations, floral arrangements are chosen with symbolic care—olive branches for peace, lilies for resurrection, and roses for divine love—underscoring how flowers continue to serve as living metaphors for the papacy’s spiritual and pastoral mission.

Flowers have long played a role in expressing personal sentiments of spiritual leaders.

Since the Middle Ages, Pope’s have created a papal coat of arms as a personal symbol incorporating symbols related to the Pope’s family background or his personal aspirations.

THE LILY IS CONNECTION TO VIRGIN MARY

The central theme of Pope Leo XIV’s floral coat of arms revolves around his devotion to the Virgin Mary, his Augustinian spiritual heritage, and his emphasis on unity and communion within the Church. 

On first glance, there’s a white Lily on a blue background.

The white lily symbolizes the Virgin Mary, representing her purity and virginity. The blue background represents the heavens and further highlights the Marian significance of the lily. Some have speculated that it could represent the French influence in his background.

There is also a heart pierced by an Arrow on a Book. This imagery symbolizes the Order of Saint Augustine, to which Pope Leo XIV belongs with the concept of “You have pierced my heart with Your Word”.  The arrow symbolizes divine truth, while the book represents the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God. It signifies that while Christians are many, they are unified as one in Christ.

Hundreds of colorful plants, arranged like tiles in a mosaic, have created this floral art.

GARDENERS WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK FOR TWO WEEKS

According to Vatican News, the coat of arms was crafted by the Gardens and Environment Service of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Services of the Governorate of Vatican City State, a project that took approximately two weeks due to the need to design the new emblem and then reproduce it on site.

On average, two gardeners worked daily, bringing skill and artistic flair to the floral composition.

It consists of a mitre—recreated using Buxus sempervirens (dwarf boxwood)—placed between crossed gold and silver keys, bound with a red cord. The gold key was made using Euonymus aureus (variegated spindle), a plant that is regularly trimmed to remain dwarf and maintain its yellowish color. The silver key was created using Helichrysum italicum, a seasonal plant that must be replaced at least once a year to preserve its color.

To reproduce the blue background, 400 “Blue Star” Ageratum plants were reused from Pope Francis’ floral coat of arms. The lily was made using 50 Helichrysum italicum plants, propagated by cuttings by the greenhouse maintenance staff of the Gardens and Environment Service.

To form this lighter half of the shield, 400 bronze-leaved, white-flowered Begonia semperflorens Night Life plants were used. The heart was formed using Iresine lindenii plants, propagated from cuttings by greenhouse staff.

The book was crafted in collaboration with the blacksmiths’ unit of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Services, who fashioned metal sheets to create its shape.

Red lava rock was placed inside for the red detailing, and white gravel was used to highlight the pages.

SYMBOLISM EXPRESSED THROUGH FLOWERS

In the end, nature—with all its splendor and color—combined with the expertise of the Vatican Gardens staff brought to life this gem of artistic beauty.

It will be appreciated by all the visitors to the Vatican.