Opening Prayer & Reflection (5 minutes)

Loving God,

You have made us one body in Christ. Today, we reflect on the symbols chosen by Pope Leo XIV. Open our hearts to see how these images speak not only of one man’s journey, but of the Church’s mission to bring all people together in love. Help us recognize these symbols in our own lives — [name here some examples students can see around your school] and in the hearts of our friends. Lord Jesus, you gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom. Help us remember that we too are called to unlock peace, truth, and kindness in the world. May we each be a symbol of unity, in the One, as one.
Let us pray the Hail Mary together. Hail Mary…
You have made us for yourself, O Lord…. And our hearts are restless until they rest in you.
Amen.

Coat of Arms Breakdown (20 minutes)

A. Project an image of Pope Leo XIV’s Coat of Arms or provide students with a copy for them to look at independently at their desks (see PDF). Allow students time to simply look at the artwork and take it in for a couple of minutes of quiet reflection.

B. Provide students with a sticky note and have them list symbols or images that they see (not necessarily what they mean). Then, invite students to share their list in contributing towards the creation a class list on the board.

C. Turn now to a discussion of symbols and meanings. Using the list from the students, discuss and unpack the images in the Coat of Arms. Why might Pope Leo have selected these images? Have you seen any of these images around campus? Use the information below to guide the discussion. Wrap up by asking the students which of these symbols means the most to them personally, and why.

Bishop's Mitre
Pope Leo XIV is the Bishop of Rome. The three horizontal lines on the mitre reference the three crowns of the papal tiara. Pope Benedict XVI replaced the papal tiara with the mitre in his coat of arms, and both Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV have continued that tradition.

Fleur-de-lis (White on Blue)
Purity, the Virgin Mary, the Trinity; a Marian image (though it can also refer to the Trinity). The Pope's devotion to the Virgin Mary was evident from his first appearance on the loggia, when he referred to the Madonna of Pompeii and asked the crowd to recite an Ave Maria with him.

Heart Pierced by Arrow on Book
Augustine’s conversion, love of Scripture. 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.”  or “You have pierced my heart with your Word.”

Keys (Gold & Silver)
Authority of Peter and the papacy (Matthew 16:18-19):“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Book
God’s Word; Augustine’s search for truth; Tolle Lege – Take Up and Read. These were the words that Augustine heard at his conversion.

Motto: “In Illo uno unum” - “In the One, we are one”
This motto recalls Augustine’s theology of unity in Christ. 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.” 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.”

Activity: Create Your Own Coat of Arms (30 minutes)

Students will design a personal spiritual coat of arms that reflects their faith, personality, and values using symbols and colors (see PDF). Include:

• 3–4 symbols
• At least 2 colors
• A motto (in English or Latin)

On the back or on a separate page, have them write a short reflection about why they included the symbols and colors that they selected.

Sharing (15 minutes)

Invite students to share the symbols and mottos they chose and what they mean. (They may also read aloud their reflections). 

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, you gathered the disciples as one body, and you call us now to be your Church. Thank you for the life and witness of Saint Augustine and for our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. May his symbols remind us that we are many, yet one in You. May our own symbols help us remember who we are, what we value, and who we follow. Unite us always in Your truth and love. Amen.