Beginning in the early 13th century, from the time of Pope Innocent III, every Pontiff has had his own personal coat of arms symbolizing his papacy.

All recent popes' coats of arms contained the image of the papal tiara. Papa Benedetto has not adopted this custom, replacing the tiara with the mitre and pallium.  The papal coat of arms in keeping with tradition, 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:

"Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. I will give thee the keys to the kingdom of Heaven. Whatever thou bindest on earth shalt be bound in Heaven; and whatever thou loosest on earth shall be loosed in Heaven."

The olive branch is the symbol of peace and Pope Pius was known as the Angelic Shepherd and the Pntiff who said, "I bless peace, not war!"

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