The coat of arms of Pope Francis borrows much from his former episcopal emblem. On the blue shield is the symbol of the Society of Jesus. Below it is a five-pointed star and the buds of a spikenard flower, which represent respectively Mary and St. Joseph. The papal motto is the Latin phrase “Miserando atque eligendo,” which means “because he saw him through the eyes of mercy and chose him” or more simply, “having mercy, he called him.” The phrase comes from a homily by St. Bede. PHOTO: CNS

17 Nov 2017

By The Record

The coat of arms of Pope Francis borrows much from his former episcopal emblem. On the blue shield is the symbol of the Society of Jesus. Below it is a five-pointed star and the buds of a spikenard flower, which represent respectively Mary and St. Joseph. The papal motto is the Latin phrase "Miserando atque eligendo," which means "because he saw him through the eyes of mercy and chose him" or more simply, "having mercy, he called him." The phrase comes from a homily by St. Bede. PHOTO: CNS

The coat of arms of Pope Francis borrows much from his former episcopal emblem. On the blue shield is the symbol of the Society of Jesus. Below it is a five-pointed star and the buds of a spikenard flower, which represent respectively Mary and St. Joseph. The papal motto is the Latin phrase “Miserando atque eligendo,” which means “because he saw him through the eyes of mercy and chose him” or more simply, “having mercy, he called him.” The phrase comes from a homily by St. Bede. (CNS) (March 18, 2013) See FRANCIS-SHIELD (UPDATED) March 18, 2013.