'And having mercy, He called him'
miserando atque eligendo


Pope Francis has decided to keep his previous coat of arms, chosen at the time of his episcopal consecration. The blue shield is surmounted by the symbols of papal dignity, the mitre above crossed keys of gold and silver, bound by the red cord. At the top of the shield is the emblem of Pope’s religious order, the Society of Jesus; a radiant sun carrying the letters in red, 'IHS', ('Iesus Hominum Salvator', a monogram of the Holy Name of Jesus). The letter 'H' is crowned by a cross; beneath the letters are three black nails representing those of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Lower down on the shield there is a star and spikenard flower. The star symbolizes the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ and the Church; while the spikenard flower symbolizes St Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. By bearing these images on his shield, the Pope communicates his special devotion to the Holy Family.

His motto 'miserando atque eligendo' which means 'And having mercy, He called him', is taken from the Gospel account of the Call of Matthew. When Pope Francis was 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.