www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Papal Coat of Arm

Just wondering if His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has yet chosen a coat of arms to identify his papacy?

Thanks to anyone who has any information on this topic.

shestelle

Hi,

Well Cardinal Ratzinger already had a coat of arms. I've seen at least two similar, but slightly different versions.

This one is very clear:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/23/150px-Stemma_benedict_xvi.jpg

This one seems to be more "official":

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d3/Stemma_benedict_xvi.jpg


I understand that the shells on the shield are a reference to the alleged vision of St. Augustine in which a child was trying to move all the water of the ocean from one place to another using a shell, one shell-full of water at a time. St. Augustine, with some humor, told the child his quest was going to take a long time. The child replied that he agreed, but even then again, St. Augustine's task of comprehending the mystery of Holy Trinity would certainly take longer. A most fitting symbol for a theologian.

The bears seem to be a reference to the story of St. Corbinian, another legend for sure, the story tells that St. Corbinian was travelling to Rome by horse, when a bear appeared and killed the horse. St. Corbinian rebuked the bear, and the bear, repenting, agreed to carry St. Corbinian's backpack for the reminder of the journey. I read this as a symbol of humility and solidarity. If the Holy Father's zeal for truth is an inconvenience for others, then he is willing to lend himself in support of their burdens.

I do not know what the crowned profile, seemingly female figure means.

His motto is "Cooperatores Veritatis", which means "Co-worker of Truth".

Of course, he may change his coat of arms upon his election as Pope, so we'll have to wait for an official word.

Shalom,
Memo

Benedict will choose a new coat of arms for his papacy, and will no longer use the one from his cardinaliate. I haven't been able to find it. I have been checking to Vatican website often.

Maybe he'll unveil it at his formal presentation Mass??

Unlike the coat of arms each Cardinal has which may vary considerably, the papal coat of arms always contains the image of the papal tiara and (St. Peter's) crossed keys as the background, with minimal alterations on the design of the tiara and keys.

The "shield" (in the foreground)is the variation from Pope to Pope. So, Cardinal Ratzinger's coat of arms may form as the "shield" in his eventual coat of arms as Pope Benedict XVI.

But I am just imagining like everyone else!

Amado

Hi,

Oh, of course the current images that depict Cardinal Ratzinger's coat of arms do not show the Papal coat of arms exactly as it will be.

The archiepiscopal cross, the red hat and the tassels will be replaced by the keys, the tiara and the infulae, since these elements are not personal to a cleric, but indicative of his order and "rank".

But I do not see why people are assuming with so much certitude that Pope Benedict will change the shield, which is the part of the coat of arms that is personal. After all, his coat of arms, as shown on the second link I sent you, could be seen on the mitre he used for is innauguration mass yesterday.

The Pope may very well "cut" his shield and "paste" it over the blue one with the cross and the M of his predecessor (of blessed memory) and there you'd have the new coat of arms.

Shalom,
Memo

It is true. Benedict XVI, like John Paul II, may continue to use the Arms from his cardinaliate. But traditionally, a new Coat of Arms has been chosen.
But you are right. The chances for a new one are probably about 50/50.

The Papal Coat of Arms has been announced.

http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1049977&t=Nation+%2F+World&c=26,1049977

They still haven't put it on the Vatican website.

Of course, they still have John Paul II and "Vacancy of the Holy See" on the English site, while the pages for all the other languages have Pope Benedict XVI...

I guess they figure the English speakers don't like our new pope?

Tammy

Dear Friends,

As someone who was allowed the privilege to construct my own official coat of arms, which is now recognized by the Canadian Herald, I know it can be an arduous process!

But it's fun!

And the new Pope is no stranger to developing coats of arms.

He must be having fun right now with it!

Alex the Armiger

Dear Friends,

I don't know why the above article associates the shell with St Augustine! It could be so associated, but it doesn't have to be.

The shell has been associated with baptism and also with pilgrimage i.e. to Santiago of Compostela.

Shells received by pilgrims after their pilgrimage were highly prized and were often left in wills etc.

Alex

Hi,

Well, if the official coat of arms of Pope Benedict is the one that I saw, he just re-arranged the shield, but kept the same elements.

I also found that the "Crowned Ethiopian" is a traditional image of St. Corbinian, the one of the legend of the Bear, and also the patron of Munich-Freising, from where Joseph Ratzinger was Archbishop.

But the image of the Crowned Ethiopian has a broader German tradition as a response to the nationalist Protestant Reformation. An *image* of an obviously *foreign* *saint* was, in Post-Reformation Germany, one of the strongest Catholic statements you could make with such a simple symbol.

Shalom,
Memo

I think the shell association comes in part because everyone knows the story of St Augustine on the seashore and in part because everyone knows Joseph Ratzinger is a specialist in the Augustinian tradition of philosophy and theology.

Dear Myles,

All right, DESPITE the Augustinian thing, I STILL pledge my unswerving loyalty to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI!!!

Long live Papalism!

Alex

[img]http://us.f513.mail.yahoo.com/ym/us...ort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b[/img]

The coat of arms of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI.

Martin

(Don't ask me where you can find it: It was forwarded to me!)