Vatican Proverbs (25)

Habemus Papam!

“We have a Pope!”

The traditional Latin announcement made from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to declare that a new pope has been elected.

Urbi et Orbi.

“To the City and to the World.”

The formal blessing given by the Pope on the most solemn occasions, addressed to the city of Rome and to the whole world.

Sic transit gloria mundi.

“Thus passes the glory of the world.”

Historically recited during papal coronation ceremonies while a strip of flax was burned before the newly elected pope, reminding him that earthly glory is fleeting.

Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam.

“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.”

Words of Jesus to the apostle Peter, inscribed in giant letters around the base of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, foundational to the Catholic understanding of the papacy.

Ad multos annos.

“For many years.”

A traditional Latin liturgical greeting wishing someone, especially a pope or bishop, many more years of life and service.

Pax vobis.

“Peace be with you.”

The greeting of the risen Christ to his disciples, adopted as a recurring greeting throughout the Catholic Mass, including papal liturgies at the Vatican.

Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam.

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give the glory.”

A psalm verse used in Catholic liturgy to redirect all credit for good outcomes away from human pride and toward God.

Sapientia aedificavit sibi domum.

“Wisdom has built herself a house.”

The opening line of a passage on wisdom from the Book of Proverbs, part of the Vulgate Latin Bible central to Vatican liturgical and scriptural tradition.

Lex orandi, lex credendi.

“The law of prayer is the law of belief.”

A foundational principle of Catholic theology holding that the way the Church prays shapes and reveals what it believes.

Salus animarum suprema lex.

“The salvation of souls must be the supreme law.”

A guiding maxim of Catholic canon law holding that every rule and structure of the Church exists ultimately to serve the spiritual good of the faithful.

Ante omnia autem mutuam in vosmetipsos caritatem continuam habentes, quia caritas operit multitudinem peccatorum.

“Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves, for charity shall cover a multitude of sins.”

Peter urges the early Christian community to place selfless love above all else, because genuine love forgives and heals many faults.

Omnem sollicitudinem vestram proicientes in eum, quoniam ipsi cura est de vobis.

“Casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you.”

An exhortation to surrender one's worries and burdens to God rather than carrying them alone.

Tu es Christus, Filius Dei vivi.

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Peter's confession of faith at Caesarea Philippi, recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, a pivotal moment in the Gospels.

Argentum et aurum non est mihi; quod autem habeo, hoc tibi do: in nomine Iesu Christi Nazareni surge, et ambula.

“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

Peter's words while healing a lame beggar, illustrating that spiritual gifts and faith matter more than material wealth.

Agnosce, o Christiane, dignitatem tuam et, divinae consors effectus naturae, noli in veterem vilitatem degeneri conversatione redire.

“Christian, remember your dignity, and now that you share in God's own nature, do not return to your former baseness by a life unworthy of that dignity.”

Leo reminds Christians that their new spiritual dignity should shape how they live, not be abandoned for old, lesser habits.

“The lowliness of manhood and the majesty of Godhead met together in one Person.”

A central line from Leo's Tome to Flavian describing the union of Christ's human and divine natures, which shaped the Council of Chalcedon's definition of the Incarnation.

Servus servorum Dei.

“Servant of the servants of God.”

The title Gregory adopted for the papal office to emphasize humility in leadership; it remains part of the official style used by popes to this day.

Non Angli, sed angeli.

“Not Angles, but angels.”

Gregory's remark upon seeing fair-haired English boys in a Roman market, which tradition credits with inspiring his mission to convert England to Christianity.

“See everything, overlook a great deal, correct a little.”

A maxim describing John XXIII's pastoral leadership style, favoring patience and gentle correction over strict severity.

“I often wake up at night and start to think about a serious problem, and decide to tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and remember that I am the Pope.”

A self-deprecating anecdote John XXIII often told about learning to release his anxieties by trusting the office he held to God's care.

“We must never depart from the sacred patrimony of truth received from the Fathers. But at the same time we must look to the present, to the new conditions and new forms of life introduced into the modern world.”

From his address opening the Second Vatican Council, balancing fidelity to Church tradition with openness to engaging the modern world.

“Be not afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ.”

The rallying words from the homily at the inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter's Square, which became one of the defining themes of his papacy.

“A person's rightful due is to be treated as an object of love, not as an object of use.”

A core principle from his early philosophical writing on the ethics of human relationships, insisting that people must never be reduced to mere means to another's ends.

“The first and fundamental structure for human ecology is the family.”

From his 1991 social encyclical, arguing that a healthy society begins with strong, stable family life.

“The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus' message.”

The opening line of his 1995 encyclical on the dignity and sanctity of human life, which became a foundation of Catholic pro-life teaching.