Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio, who has taken the name Francis.
His arms as archbishop of Buenos Aires:
I hope that the Papal heralds can work some wonders with that one…
http://www.araldicavaticana.com/images/dom/hansdisCd_BERGOGLIO__Buenos_Aires0001.JPG
[Unrelated to heraldry] The news outlets are referring to him as Francis I. I was under the impression that there was no "first" until there was a "second". Am I wrong?
I doubt there will be a tiara on these arms
Kenneth Mansfield;97855 wrote:
[Unrelated to heraldry] The news outlets are referring to him as Francis I. I was under the impression that there was no "first" until there was a "second". Am I wrong?
Logically, yes - but the first John Paul was "Pope John Paul I". I suppose that it will be up to Francis how he signs his name.
For what it’s worth, he was plain old "Franciscum" on the twitter accouncement.
Mark Olivo;97858 wrote:
For what it’s worth, he was plain old "Franciscum" on the twitter accouncement.
A clarification from the Vatican spokesman, Fr. Lombardi, states that it’s just Francis.
As for these arms, I wonder if he’ll keep that huge Jesuit sunburst. And if he doesn’t, what would be left? I could see a complete reformulation.
Alexander Schrenk;97860 wrote:
As for these arms, I wonder if he’ll keep that huge Jesuit sunburst.
I think that an uncharged sun Or on Azure could serve as a good starting point for his arms - with the double meaning of the Jesuit symbol, and from the flag of Argentina.
In the related thread on the HSS forum, I suggested Azure—or maybe Bleu celeste 
—a latin cross Or with a towel Argent draped over the cross-arms in the form of an "M" and a bowl or basin Argent in sinister base, from the account of the last supper in the gosple of John) given the new pope’s reputation as a champion & servant of the poor. Also uses the colors of the Argentine flag;
My private suggestion regarding the arms of the new Supreme Pontiff… No, he did not ask me, but some friends did
March 15 13.19 GMT: (Holy See Press Officer) Fr Lombardi: Pope Francis still has not finalised his motto and coat of arms.
gselvester;97920 wrote:
March 15 13.19 GMT: (Holy See Press Officer) Fr Lombardi: Pope Francis still has not finalised his motto and coat of arms.
I didn’t think that Popes used mottos with their arms… :confused:
steven harris;97923 wrote:
I didn’t think that Popes used mottos with their arms… :confused:
They do not use them on their achievements (for lack of a better heraldic term), but they have them and often they feature prominently elsewhere. Pope Benedict’s was Cooperatores veritatis (Coworkers in the truth); Pope John Paul II’s Totus tuus [Maria] (All yours, [Mary]).
I did wonder about Fr. Lombardi’s comment, though, because as far as I was aware, popes keep their episcopal mottoes. Perhaps Pope Francis is considering changing his now that he is Supreme Pontiff. (His current one is Miserando atque eligendo, roughly rendered as "Lowly, yet chosen.")
steven harris;97862 wrote:
I think that an uncharged sun Or on Azure could serve as a good starting point for his arms - with the double meaning of the Jesuit symbol, and from the flag of Argentina.
Third reference will be to St. Francis of Assisi, who wrote the ‘Canticle of the Sun’, but I think it’s a bit of a stretch.
