The Design Debacle of Pope Leo XIV's Coat of Arms
Controversy surfaces over the artistic depiction in the coat of arms of Pope Leo XIV
The selection of Pope Leo XIV has sparked a whirlwind of controversy, not just in religious circles, but in the design world as well. The focus of this debate has shifted from the kerning of Pope Francis's tomb to the intricate details of Pope Leo XIV's coat of arms.
The design of Pope Leo XIV's coat of arms is reminiscent of the one he used as a cardinal, adorned with external symbols indicative of his new role. However, the choice of color and specific details has left some design enthusiasts scratching their heads.
According to Vatican News, the coat of arms is designed to reflect Pope Leo XIV's Augustinian roots and the values he seeks to promote during his pontificate, particularly unity and communion within the Church. The shield, divided diagonally into two sections, bears a white lily on a blue background in the upper half, symbolizing purity and the Virgin Mary, and a closed book with a heart pierced by an arrow in the lower half, a reference to Saint Augustine.
But the specifics of the color choices leave much to be desired. "Is the background supposed to be gold or silver? Your description of a 'light background' isn't exactly clear," one critic chimed in. "It looks cream-coloured in this illustration, is it supposed to be argent or or?" another questioned.
The confusion seems to have reached a fever pitch, with some referring to the coat of arms as the "anti-design" of the papal world. For answers, it looks like the Holy See will have to publish the hex code and Pantone values forthwith.
The debate surrounding the coat of arms isn't just about color. Many are still reeling from the decision to switch the papal tiara for a common bishop's mitre - a change that was made two decades ago. While the tiara is still used as a symbol of the papacy, it hasn't featured on a pope's personal coat of arms since Pope Benedict XVI replaced it in 2005.
The outcry over the mitre has been fierce. "Kinda bummed out he chose to use a Bishop's mitre instead of the papal crown in his coat of arms. I was hoping he'd get back to that... It's a powerful symbol of the Kingship of Christ," one critic lamented. "RIP the Papal Tiara," another lamented.
Some have even gone so far as to suggest more modern additions, such as an American flag. Apparently, in the world of design, there's no pleasing everyone.
As this debate continues, perhaps the Vatican could brush up on our style guide examples for a little inspiration. For more of the week's branding and design news, check out the new Google logo.
Designer's Notes:
- The floral installation at the Vatican Gardens, while visually stunning, seems to have oversimplified the design, focusing solely on the upper left section (blue background, white lily) and the mitre and keys with their color-coded plants. The official heraldic shield, on the other hand, also includes a white background and a red heart with an arrow on a book on the lower right.
- For those interested in the specific colors used in the floral installation, the mitre is made of green Buxus sempervirens, the gold key from yellowish Euonymus aureus, and the silver key from silvery Helichrysum italicum. The red cords binding the keys are typically Iresine brillantissima in the summer and Viola cornuta in the winter.
- The floral version of the shield, while visually appealing, may not accurately represent the full design as depicted in the official heraldic description.
- The art world is abuzz with debate over Pope Leo XIV's coat of arms, a creation that blends illustration and branding with pop-culture references.
- The specifics of the color choices in the coat of arms have led to questions about the exact shades, with critics asking whether the background is argent, or, or.
- The design of the coat of arms is meant to be a reflection of Pope Leo XIV's Augustinian roots and the values he seeks to promote, featuring symbols like a white lily, a closed book with a heart pierced by an arrow, and a shield divided diagonally.
- Despite the visual appeal of the floral installation in the Vatican Gardens, it oversimplifies the design by focusing solely on the upper left section and the mitre and keys, while neglecting other elements like the white background and red heart with an arrow on a book.
- The choice of accessories, such as the common bishop's mitre instead of the traditional papal tiara, has also sparked controversy in the design community.
- The design of the coat of arms has led some to suggest more modern additions, such as an American flag, but the overall reaction is that it's hard to please everyone in the realm of design.
- To find inspiration, the Vatican could study Google's recent design updates like its new logo, which showcases the latest trends in UX, typography, and fonts.
- The layout of the floral installation may not accurately represent the full design as depicted in the official heraldic description, and for those interested, the specific colors used in the floral installation have been detailed: the mitre is made of green Buxus sempervirens, the gold key from yellowish Euonymus aureus, the silver key from silvery Helichrysum italicum, and the red cords binding the keys are typically Iresine brillantissima in the summer and Viola cornuta in the winter.
