The pectoral cross
worn by Pope Leo XIV on the day of his election
Pope Leo XIV's pectoral cross holds relics of Saints
Augustine and Monica
On the day of his election, Pope Leo XIV wore a pectoral
cross containing relics of saints linked to the Augustinian order: those of
Saint Augustine and the saint's mother, Saint Monica.
By Tiziana Campisi
The pectoral cross worn by Pope Leo XIV on the day of his
election, the 8th of May, carries a powerful message of episcopal holiness.
Embedded within it are fragments of bone from saints deeply connected to the
Augustinian tradition - witnesses to faith whose lives reflect fidelity,
reform, service, and martyrdom.
At the centre of the cross is a relic of Saint Augustine,
the great Church Father who taught that looking inward is key to encountering
God and understanding His Word - something to be embraced with both faith and
reason, so it may be shared with others. The cross, which Pope Leo XIV wore
when he first appeared to the world from the central balcony of St Peter’s
Basilica, is rich in symbolism. Alongside the relic of the Bishop of Hippo -
spiritual father of the Augustinian Order and enduring guide through his Rule
and writings - are fragments from four other saints: Monica, Thomas of
Villanova, Blessed Anselmo Polanco, and Venerable Giuseppe Bartolomeo Menochio.
The parchment
certifying the authenticity of the relics in the pectoral cross worn by Leo
XIV.
A present from the Augustinian General Curia
The relics were chosen by Fr Josef Sciberras, Postulator
General of the Augustinian Order, as a present from the General Curia to their
confrère, Cardinal Robert Prevost, when he was created cardinal on the 30th of
September 2023. Each relic represents a figure whose life reflects a key aspect
of sanctity within the Augustinian family. Speaking to Vatican Media, Fr
Sciberras said he was overjoyed at the election of the new Pope. He recalled
that Cardinal Prevost was “very moved” when the cross was given to him during a
celebration at the refectory of the International College of Saint Monica. He knew
that he would be carrying close to his heart relics of both Saint Augustine and
his mother, Monica.
“The day before the conclave,” Fr Sciberras shared, “I sent
him a message, encouraging him to wear the cross we had given him, for the
protection of Saints Augustine and Monica. I don’t know whether it was because
of my message or not, but when I saw he was wearing it when taking the oath -
and again when he stepped out onto the balcony of the basilica - I was deeply
moved.”
Then-Cardinal Prevost
with Father Josef Sciberras.
Augustine and Monica
The fragment of Saint Augustine’s bone is a reminder of the
Order of Saint Augustine, established by the Apostolic See in 1244. Over the
centuries, the Order has followed his ideal of community life, apostolic
service, spirituality, and study. The relic of Saint Monica highlights the deep
and enduring bond between Augustine and his mother. Hers was a life marked by
strength and perseverance, and through her tears and tireless prayers, she
helped bring about her son’s conversion. Augustine praised her virtues in
his Confessions, seeing them as gifts from God.
Pope Francis had a particular devotion to Saint Monica, and
as both cardinal and Pope, he would often visit her tomb in the Basilica of
Saint Augustine in Rome’s Campo Marzio. For the Augustinian Order, Monica’s
life and her son’s path to conversion and consecration are deeply intertwined -
cornerstones of Augustinian spirituality.
Leo XIV appearing from
the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica. (@Vatican Media)
Thomas of Villanova
Saint Thomas of Villanova, who served as Archbishop of
Valencia in the 15th and 16th centuries, was a major reformer of religious life
and a true shepherd, one who “smelled of his sheep,” to borrow a phrase used
often by Pope Francis. He was known for his tireless care for the poor and his
support of missions in the New World. A brilliant theologian, he also founded a
seminary in Valencia in 1550, which still exists today, even before the Council
of Trent’s reforms on priestly formation.
Anselmo Polanco
Blessed Anselmo Polanco, Bishop of Teruel, was martyred
during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). He remained steadfast in his duty to
his people until the end, once declaring, “As long as even one of my flock
remains, I will stay.” Loyal both to the Pope and to his people, he was killed
for his unshakable faith and Gospel witness.
Bartolomeo Menochio
Venerable Giuseppe Bartolomeo Menochio, Bishop of Porphyry
and Prefect of the Apostolic Sacristy, served as Pontifical Sacristan from
1800. During the Napoleonic era, he stood firm in his loyalty to the Pope and
endured great hardship for it. A central figure in the life of the Church in
Rome, he died “in the odour of sanctity” on 25 March 1823. Pope John Paul II
recognised his heroic virtues in 1991. Menochio is remembered as a devoted
bishop and the only one who refused to swear allegiance to Napoleon, choosing
instead to dedicate his life fully to the service of the Roman people.
A Visible Sign of Faith and Pastoral Mission
The relics of Saints Augustine, Monica, Thomas of Villanova,
Blessed Polanco, and Venerable Menochio were kept in the lipsanotheca of the
Augustinian Postulation. Fr Sciberras entrusted them to relic expert Antonino
Cottone, who placed them inside the pectoral cross later presented to the man
who would become Pope.
“This cross isn’t just a decorative object,” Fr Sciberras
explains. “It’s a visible sign of faith and a clear reflection of pastoral
commitment. The relics it contains are all linked to the Augustinian tradition,
and each one represents fidelity, reform, service, or martyrdom - virtues that
now guide and sustain the ministry of the new Pope.”
The inside of Pope Leo
XIV’s pectoral cross.
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