Papa Benedict's Coat of Arms

In the last few days several people have asked about the Papal Coat of Arms.

The tradition of Papal Coat of Arms dates back at least 800 years. The first known pope to use a personal coat of arms was Pope Innocent IV (1243-1254). The tradition of employing heraldic art for personal representation, however, dates further back to the times of kings.

While ecclesiastical heraldic usage follows similar traditions in composition and definition of civic heraldry, the former also include symbolism proper one's rank in holy orders. Most commonly, said symbols surround the shield.

Traditionally, Popes in the past married family coats of arms with ecclesiastical symbolism to create papal heraldic insignia. Coat of arms of previous popes appear on buildings, publications, and haberdashery respective to reigning Pontiffs. For example, the base of the Baldachinno of Saint Peter's Basilica depicts the coat of arms of Pope Urban VIII, who commissioned it.

In respect of Benedict XVI's coat of arms, he departed from previous tradition by simplifying it and removing previously used insignia.

Benedict's shield employs the traditional "chalice" form. The most basic representation of the papacy, the crossed silver and gold keys entwined by red tassels are placed behind the shield. the keys are symbolic of temporal and spiritual power. It is surmounted by a simple mitre and not the traditional triple tiara. The mitre is decorated with three gold bands to recall the three crowns of the tiara which symbolize the "three powers of Orders, Jurisdiction and Magisterium.

A new element added by Pope Benedict is the Palium which appears directly below the shield. The Palium is the wool band which is worn by metropolitan archbishops over the shoulders and is symbolic of their role as shepherds of the flock.

The shield is divided in three sections, the uppermost divisions are separated in chape or cape form, a traditional monastic fashion that recalls Benedict's connection to Saint Benedict.

The shell is the prominent symbol employed in the lower half of the shield. It's triple symbolism is described in the following manner by the Vatican:

Its first meaning is theological. It is intended to recall a legend attributed to St Augustine. Meeting a child on the beach who was trying to scoop up the sea into a hole in the sand, Augustine asked him what he was doing. The child explained his vain attempt and Augustine took it to refer to his own futile endeavour to encompass the infinity of God within the confines of the limited human mind. The legend has an obvious spiritual symbolism; it is an invitation to know God, yet with the humility of inadequate human understanding, drawing from the inexhaustible source of theology.
The scallop shell, moreover, has been used for centuries to distinguish pilgrims. Benedict XVI wanted to keep this symbolism alive, treading in the footsteps of John Paul II, a great pilgrim to every corner of the world. The design of large shells that decorated the chasuble he wore at the solemn liturgy for the beginning of his Pontificate, Sunday, 24 April, was most evident. The scallop is also an emblem that features in the coat of arms of the ancient Monastery of Schotten near Regensburg (Ratisbon) in Bavaria, to which Joseph Ratzinger feels spiritually closely bound.

The Ethiopian Moor of Freising is depicted in the upper dexter corner (left of the person looking at the shield). A depiction of a Moor's head is not uncommon in European heraldic devices. In Benedict's coat of arms it recalls his connection to the Archdiocese of München und Freising , Munich and Freising, where Benedict, as Cardinal Ratzinger served as Metropolitan Archbishop in the 1970's.

A brown bear with a pack saddle on his back is depicted in the sinister (right to the person looking at it) upper corner.

An ancient tradition tells that the first Bishop of Freising, St Corbinian (born c. 680 in Châtres, France; died 8 September 730), set out for Rome on horseback. While riding through a forest he was attacked by a bear that tore his horse to pieces. Corbinian not only managed to tame the animal but also to make it carry his baggage to Rome. This explains why the bear is shown carrying a pack. An easy interpretation: the bear tamed by God's grace is the Bishop of Freising himself; the pack saddle is the burden of his Episcopate.

In heraldic terms, Benedict's shield would be described as such, "Gules, chape in or, with the scallop shell of the second; the dexter chape with a moor's head in natural colour, crowned and collared of the first, the sinister chape a bear trippant in natural colour, carrying a pack gules belted sable".