Coat of Armas
Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone
Archdiocese of San Francisco
The coat of arms
The coat of arms of Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone celebrates the line of fishermen in his family. It presents a red crab against a silver background and a demi-lion with red claws holding a heart to honor the family name, Cordileone, which means “heart of a lion” from a literal translation of cor di leone.
The banner at the bottom includes his motto, “In Verbo Tuo,” translated, “At Your Word,” recalling the Gospel story of the apostles casting their nets at the Lord’s urging after fishing all night and catching nothing. Peter lets down the net on the strength of Christ’s command. “And Simon answered: ‘Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5:5)
Personal Coat of Arms of Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone’s coat of arms combines personal and family elements with religious symbolism.
Shield, Left Side: This features the insignia of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, showcasing the crossed arms of Christ and St. Francis of Assisi.
Shield, Right Side: This represents Archbishop Cordileone’s personal and family history.
Red Crab against a Silver Background: This represents his family’s lineage of fishermen and their crab fishing occupation on their arrival in California. It also references a bishop’s duty to be a “fisher of men” (Luke 5:10).
The crab may additionally symbolize the month of July, connecting to significant dates in the Archbishop’s life: his priestly ordination (July 9, 1982) and his appointment as bishop (July 5, 2002).
Demi-Lion with Red Claws Holding a Heart: This is a direct reference to his family name, Cordileone, which translates to “heart of a lion” (cor di leone). The demi-lion is depicted rampant (on its hind legs) and in profile.
Biblically, the lion signifies courage, power, strength, and victory. It also symbolizes Christ, the King of Kings, and the Messianic title “Lion of Judah” applied to Christ in Revelation 5:5.
Wavy line with blue background: The wavy line and blue background in the upper half of the shield symbolize the family’s connection to the sea.
Archiepiscopal Cross: Behind the shield is a golden, double-traversed archiepiscopal cross, signifying his rank as an archbishop.
Galero: A green galero (broad-brimmed ecclesiastical hat) with ten tassels on each side sits above the shield, further denoting his status as an archbishop in the Catholic Church.
Motto “In verbo tuo” (At your word): This motto comes from the story of the miraculous catch in the Gospel of Luke (Chapter 5). It refers to Peter’s response, “At your word, I will let down the nets”,
when Jesus instructed them to put out into the deep for a catch. This emphasizes the importance of faith and obedience to Christ’s word.