The Cross He Was Given to Carry: A Reflection on Pope Leo XIV’s Pectoral Cross

When Pope Leo XIV stepped onto the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time as Successor of Peter, many eyes were drawn not just to his presence—but to what hung around his neck.

It was a pectoral cross unlike any other. A gift from the Augustinian Order, given to him when he was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2023, the cross contains something deeply personal and profoundly spiritual: the relics of five Augustinian saints and blesseds.

This cross is more than ornamental. It tells a story.

A Communion of Saints Carried Close to the Heart

• St. Augustine of Hippo

Once a restless seeker of truth, Augustine’s conversion through the prayers of his mother and the grace of God led him to become one of the Church’s most brilliant theologians and a Doctor of the Church. His words still echo through the ages: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” That restless heart—transformed by grace—continues to inspire the Church’s mission to proclaim the truth in love.

• St. Monica

The mother of Augustine, Monica is the patron saint of all who pray for the conversion of loved ones. Her steadfast tears and intercessions over many years bore fruit in her son’s dramatic return to the faith. Her presence in the cross speaks of patient love, faithful prayer, and the quiet strength of motherhood.

• St. Thomas of Villanova

A Spanish Augustinian bishop, Thomas was known for his deep humility, devotion to education, and tireless service to the poor. Called the “Father of the Poor,” he lived simply so that others might have more. His relic reminds us that true leadership begins with service and that the Church is called to walk with those in need.

• Blessed Anselmo Polanco

A bishop and martyr of the Spanish Civil War, Anselmo remained faithful to his flock and his vocation even in the face of persecution and death. He was killed for his faith in 1939. His life is a witness to the cost of discipleship and the courage demanded of shepherds.

• Venerable Bartholomew Menochio

A lesser-known but no less significant figure, Menochio was a holy Augustinian priest renowned for his wisdom and leadership. He served the order with fidelity and spiritual depth, modeling the kind of steady, hidden holiness that upholds the Church.

More Than a Symbol—A Mission

Together, these saints represent not just Pope Leo XIV’s connection to the Augustinian family—but the kind of Church he may feel called to shepherd:

One rooted in prayer.

One bold in truth.

One merciful toward the suffering.

One courageous in the face of darkness.

One humble and servant-hearted.

He did not choose this cross—it was entrusted to him.

A gift.

A legacy.

A mission.

And perhaps that is what makes it so powerful.