Papal coat of arms

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Every Pope of the Roman Catholic Church has his own personal coat of arms that serves as a symbol of his papacy.

All recent popes' coats of arms contained the image of the papal tiara. Benedict XVI has altered heraldic custom and used instead the mitre and pallium (see article: Coat of arms of Pope Benedict XVI). The papal coat of arms traditionally features a gold and silver key, representing the power to bind and to loose on earth (silver) and in heaven (gold). These are a reference to St Matthew's Gospel, chapter 16, verses 18-19:

"You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Thus in ecclesiastical heraldry. the keys symbolise the spiritual authority of the Papacy as the Vicar of Christ on Earth.

Coats of arms of Popes

Note:Some of the images here just show the shield of the coat of arms, and not the full achievement of arms, which had the tiara.

Image:BXVI CoA like gfx PioM.svg|Benedict XVI
(2005-present, Episcopal form of Papal arms,traditional design)

Image:Ioannes Paulus IICoAsimple.png|John Paul II
(1978-2005)

Image:ZealJPI.jpg|John Paul I
(1978)

Image:Paul VI coa.png|Paul VI
(1963-1978)

Image:John XXIII coa.png|John XXIII
(1958-1963)

Image:Pius XII coa.png|Pius XII
(1939-1958)

Image:Pio 11.jpg|Pius XI
(1922-1939)

Image:Benedetto_15.jpg|Benedict XV
(1914-1922)

Image:Pio 10arms.jpg|St. Pius X
(1903-1914)

Image:Leone_13.jpg|Leo XIII
(1878-1903)

Image:Pio 9.jpg|Pius IX
(1846-1878)

Image:Gregorio 16.jpg|Gregory XVI
(1831-1846)

Image:Coat Leo XII.jpg |Leo XII
(1823-1829)

Image:Pius VII.jpg|Pius VII
(1800-1823)

Image:Pius VI.jpg|Pius VI
(1775-1799)

Image:Clemente XIV.jpg|Clement XIV
(1769-1774)

Image:Clemente XIII.jpg|Clement XIII
(1758-1769)

Image:Benedetto XIV.jpg|Benedict XIV
(1740-1758)

Image:Clemente XII.jpg|Clement XII
(1730-1740)

Image:Benedetto XIII.jpg|Benedict XIII
(1724-1730)

Image:Innocenzo XIII.jpg|Innocent XIII
(1721-1724)

Image:Clemente XI.jpg|Clement XI
(1700-1721)

Image:Innocenzo XII.jpg|Innocent XII
(1691-1700)

Image:Papaalessandro8 verysmall.JPG|Alexander VIII
(1689-1691)

Image:Innocenzo XI.jpg|Innocent XI
(1676-1689)

Image:Clemente X.jpg|Clement X
(1670-1676)

Image:Clemente IX.jpg|Clement IX
(1667-1669)

Image:Alessandro VII.jpg|Alexander VII
(1655-1667)

Image:Innocenzo X.jpg|Innocent X
(1644-1655)

Image:Urbano VIII.jpg|Urban VIII
(1623-1644)

Image:Gregorio 15.jpg|Gregory XV
(1621-1623)

Image:Paulo 5.jpg|Paul V
(1605-1621)

Image:Leo_11.jpg|Leo XI
(1605-1605)

Image:Clemente_VIII.jpg|Clement VIII
(1592-1605)

Image:Innocenzo_IX.jpg|Innocent IX
(1591-1591)

Image:Gregorio_14.jpg|Gregory XIV
(1590-1591)

Image:Urbano_VII.jpg|Urban VII
(1590-1590)

Image:Sisto_V.jpg|Sixtus V
(1585-1590)

Image:Gregorio_13.jpg|Gregory XIII
(1572–1585)

Image:Pio_V.jpg|Pius V
(1566–1572)

Image:Paulo 4.jpg|Paul IV
(1555-1559)

Image:Marcello2.JPG|Marcellus II
(1555–1555)

Image:Julio_III.jpg|Julius III
(1550–1555)

Image:Paulo_3.jpg|Paul III
(1534–1549)

Image:Pius_II_coa.png|Pius II
(1458–1464)

Image:Johannes_XXI1.jpg|John XXI
(1276–1277)

Related coats of arms

Holy See Coat of Arms. Also used for Vatican City.

Sede vacante Coat of Arms, used when there is no reigning pope

*Papal rituals, symbols & ceremonial*
Apostolic Palace • Papal Coat of Arms • Conclave • Coronation • Holy See • Inauguration • Papal Ring • Papal Fanon • Papal Camauro • Mitre • Mozzetta • Sedia Gestatoria • Sistine Chapel • St. John Lateran • Pallium • Popemobile • St. Peter's Basilica • St. Peter's Square • Papal Tiara • Vatican City

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