Vatican City: On the day of his election, May 8, Pope Leo XIV was presented with a singularly sacred gift: a silver pectoral cross containing holy relics that span the centuries of Church history. At its heart lies a fragment of bone from his namesake and spiritual inspiration, Pope St. Leo the Great—a towering figure of the early Church who shaped doctrine, defined papal authority, and earned the enduring title “The Great.”

This ornate cross, bestowed by the Circolo San Pietro, also encloses relics of three revered Augustinian bishops: the philosopher-theologian St. Augustine of Hippo; St. Thomas of Villanova, known for his compassion and reformist zeal; and Blessed Anselmo Polanco, a Spanish martyr who perished during the country’s civil war.

The gift was more than ceremonial. It was the fruit of a vision shared by Father Bruno Silvestrini, OSA—Guardian of the Apostolic Sanctuary and member of the Augustinian community that serves the Papal Sacristy. Understanding the symbolic weight of such a gesture, Fr. Silvestrini commissioned Antonino Cottone, a craftsman renowned for his mastery of medieval reliquary techniques, to fashion a new reliquary cross fit for the Holy Father.

Cottone, who had previously crafted five reliquaries using traditional methods, approached the task with meticulous care. In just two hours, he constructed a miniature cross using gilded paper filigree known as paperoles—a technique involving tiny curled paper strips—set against a backdrop of red moiré silk. Four delicate paper flowers cradled the sacred relics: fragments of bone, cherished for centuries, now encased in art.

The completed reliquary was then sealed within the papal pectoral cross and solemnly placed around Pope Leo XIV’s neck. The Pope received the cross with visible joy and reverence, deeply moved by the spiritual lineage it represented.

The Circolo San Pietro, the group behind this historic gesture, was founded in 1869 at the urging of Blessed Pope Pius IX to serve Rome’s poor. That their legacy continues today through such an offering is testament to the enduring connection between the papacy and the people of Rome.

With the sacred bones of four spiritual giants resting close to his heart, Pope Leo XIV embarks on his pontificate in continuity with a profound legacy—guided by the voices of saints, steeled by the example of martyrs, and rooted in the enduring mission of the Church.