The French Bishops' Conference unveiled the official logo for Pope Leo XIV's visit to France, scheduled for Sept. 25–28, and it is a design rich in symbolism.
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The modern design seeks to express the journey's theme, "So That the World May Have Life" (cf. John 6), through a visual language inspired by peace, the Eucharist, the heritage of French cathedrals, and Art Deco, one of France's most iconic artistic movements.
The bishops' conference highlighted on social media that it is "a striking symbol that combines the dove of peace, the bursting forth of life, and the spirit of our cathedrals' rose windows." It also noted that "France's tricolor hues blend with the orange of life and the green of hope, creating a universe that is decidedly joyful and radiant."
The artwork was created by Atelier Argo, a French studio specializing in design and brand identity. Its founder, Ghislain d'Orglandes, explained the creative process behind the logo, typography, and graphic elements.
"When the French Bishops' Conference came to present the project to me, they did so using the phrase the pope chose to express the meaning of his journey and visit. I studied it closely and wanted to get to the essence," d'Orglandes explained.
"That's where the idea of ??the dove with an olive branch, a symbol of a return to life, originated. I started with that initial sketch and then worked on the pope's name as if it were a logo. It's a short, memorable name. Those four letters ['Leon' in French], together with the Roman numeral, already formed a very powerful image," he explained.
The result is a circular emblem reminiscent of a cathedral stained-glass window. Inside, it features a blue dove, a cross, an architectural shape evoking both a church and an open doorway, and an olive branch.
Inspired by the stained-glass windows of French cathedrals
Regarding the meaning of the symbols, the designer explained that "the dove naturally represents peace; the branch symbolizes the sprouting of life — rebirth. At the same time, the overall design adopts a stained-glass style, resembling a large rose window that evokes both the one at Notre Dame and those of the great cathedrals."
In addition to the main logo, the accompanying images feature minimalist illustrations of three iconic locations from the papal visit: Paris, Lourdes, and Metz.
As part of the project, Atelier Argo developed an original typeface "following the same style as the logo."
"It conveys stability and a timeless character, yet simultaneously possesses curves and a certain softness in its horizontal and vertical lines. These are letters with a commanding presence and full forms that can symbolize the Eucharist, because the Eucharist is fullness," d'Orglandes said.
A design conceived to convey joy
"And it is precisely here that the Mass with the pope on Sept. 26 will be celebrated," the designer said in the video released by the French bishops, speaking from Place de la Concorde, where the pope will celebrate a Mass in Paris.
Finally, he expressed his hope that the logo and related imagery would help spiritually prepare for the pontiff's arrival in France.
"I hope my modest contribution also helps to beautify this event and succeeds in conveying a spirit of joy, the joy of welcoming the pope," he concluded.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
