This is the official portrait of Pope Leo XIV which has been released on 16 May, 2025 by Vatican. The coat of arms of Pope Leo XIV's itself was published on 10 May, 2025. His coat of arms carries the values of him as part of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) and his devotion to Blessed Virgin Mary.
The blazon (formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem) for the coat of arms, as officially translated into English by the Holy See Press Office, is as follows:
"The left field is blue with a silver fleur-de-lis; the right is white, with a flaming heart pieced by an arrow, entirely red, and resting on an uncovered book."
Above the shield there is a silver mitre, adorned with three gold bands joined by a gold vertical post, with fluttering red infulae, fringed with gold and adorned with gold crosses; in front of the infulae there are the crossed Petrine keys, gold (bend) and silver (bend sinister), linked by a red cord.
On the left field, the blue background evokes the heights of the heavens and there is the lily or fleur-de-lis (flos florum) as the classic symbol referring to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On the right field, the white (in an ivory shade) background evokes holiness and purity and there is the emblem of the OSA, a flaming heart pieced by an arrow with a book, referencing Saint Augustine's words in his book "Confessions": “Sagittaveras tu cor meum charitate tua” or“You have wounded my heart with your love”.
The official motto of Pope Leo XIV is "In Illo Uno Unum" or "In the One, we are one", referencing Saint Augustine's sermon on Psalm 128 where he explains that "although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one".
For all Christians, remember Matthew 16:18-19, it is the biblical basis for Saint Peter and his successors' authority. Christ said as follows (New American Bible version):
"And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
We all hope that the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV will remain true to his values as expressed in his papal coat of arms. Especially for Catholic Christians, pray for the best for our Holy Father because a pope is also human and of course humans make mistakes (exception only when he speaks ex cathedra). 🇻🇦✝️
The blazon (formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem) for the coat of arms, as officially translated into English by the Holy See Press Office, is as follows:
"The left field is blue with a silver fleur-de-lis; the right is white, with a flaming heart pieced by an arrow, entirely red, and resting on an uncovered book."
Above the shield there is a silver mitre, adorned with three gold bands joined by a gold vertical post, with fluttering red infulae, fringed with gold and adorned with gold crosses; in front of the infulae there are the crossed Petrine keys, gold (bend) and silver (bend sinister), linked by a red cord.
On the left field, the blue background evokes the heights of the heavens and there is the lily or fleur-de-lis (flos florum) as the classic symbol referring to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On the right field, the white (in an ivory shade) background evokes holiness and purity and there is the emblem of the OSA, a flaming heart pieced by an arrow with a book, referencing Saint Augustine's words in his book "Confessions": “Sagittaveras tu cor meum charitate tua” or“You have wounded my heart with your love”.
The official motto of Pope Leo XIV is "In Illo Uno Unum" or "In the One, we are one", referencing Saint Augustine's sermon on Psalm 128 where he explains that "although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one".
For all Christians, remember Matthew 16:18-19, it is the biblical basis for Saint Peter and his successors' authority. Christ said as follows (New American Bible version):
"And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
We all hope that the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV will remain true to his values as expressed in his papal coat of arms. Especially for Catholic Christians, pray for the best for our Holy Father because a pope is also human and of course humans make mistakes (exception only when he speaks ex cathedra). 🇻🇦✝️
Happy World Metrological Day, 20 May, 2025. 2025 Theme: "Measurements for all times, for all people". This year, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention - a milestone that underscores a century and a half of international collaboration in measurement science.
This year's theme emphasizes the essential role metrology plays in driving progress and innovation—ensuring fair trade, advancing scientific discovery and addressing global challenges.
#WorldMetrologyDay
This year's theme emphasizes the essential role metrology plays in driving progress and innovation—ensuring fair trade, advancing scientific discovery and addressing global challenges.
#WorldMetrologyDay
Happy International Tea Day, 21 May, 2025. 2025 Theme: "Tea for Better Lives". Let us always promote the sustainable production, consumption, and trade of tea.
#InternationalTeaDay
#InternationalTeaDay
Happy World Wildlife Day, 22 May, 2025. 2025 Theme: "Harmony with nature and sustainable development". This theme highlights how this plan for nature connects with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showing that both agendas must advance together as they support one another.
In December 2022, the world came together and agreed on a global plan to transform our relationship with nature. The adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), sets 23 targets for 2030 and 5 global goals for 2050 to stop and reverse the loss of nature in 25 years. Among its goals: restore 20% of degraded ecosystems and reduce the introduction or settlement of invasive alien species by 50%.
Success in the implementation of the KMGBF and the SDGs requires a whole-of-government, whole-of-society endeavor. We need all sectors to work together, including those of indigenous peoples and local communities, businesses, women and youth.
#InternationalDayforBiologicalDiversity
In December 2022, the world came together and agreed on a global plan to transform our relationship with nature. The adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), sets 23 targets for 2030 and 5 global goals for 2050 to stop and reverse the loss of nature in 25 years. Among its goals: restore 20% of degraded ecosystems and reduce the introduction or settlement of invasive alien species by 50%.
Success in the implementation of the KMGBF and the SDGs requires a whole-of-government, whole-of-society endeavor. We need all sectors to work together, including those of indigenous peoples and local communities, businesses, women and youth.
#InternationalDayforBiologicalDiversity
Sofia Florina
Happy World Wildlife Day, 22 May, 2025. 2025 Theme: "Harmony with nature and sustainable development". This theme highlights how this plan for nature connects with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showing that both agendas must advance together as…
For those who don't know, biodiversity is the variability of life on Earth, it's also all the different kinds of life you will find in one area. It can be measured on various levels, for example, genetic variability, species diversity or ecosystem diversity. So, there are many kinds.
Biological diversity or biodiversity are the foundations upon which we humans build civilizations. Fish provide 20 per cent of animal protein to about 3 billion people. Over 80 per cent of the human diet is provided by plants. As many as 80 per cent of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant‐based medicines for basic healthcare.
However, biodiversity is not distributed evenly on Earth. Loss of biodiversity threatens all, including humans. It is occurring at an alarming rate, with recent estimates showing that species extinctions are currently 10 to 100 times higher than the natural baseline. This is largely due to human activities like deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and climate change.
This loss, of course, threatens essential ecosystem services, including pollination, soil fertility, and water purification, with direct consequences for human health. For example, the degradation of wetlands, which filter freshwater, has led to a 35 per cent decline in global wetland coverage since 1970, increasing waterborne diseases and reducing water availability for over 2 billion people.
Let's work together to maintain biological diversity on Earth. We can take actions at various levels, from personal choices to supporting large-scale conservation efforts. Protecting natural habitats, controlling invasive species, and reducing pollution are crucial steps. Also, raising awareness and educating the public about the importance of biodiversity can inspire broader support for conservation initiatives, just like me.
#InternationalDayforBiologicalDiversity
Biological diversity or biodiversity are the foundations upon which we humans build civilizations. Fish provide 20 per cent of animal protein to about 3 billion people. Over 80 per cent of the human diet is provided by plants. As many as 80 per cent of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant‐based medicines for basic healthcare.
However, biodiversity is not distributed evenly on Earth. Loss of biodiversity threatens all, including humans. It is occurring at an alarming rate, with recent estimates showing that species extinctions are currently 10 to 100 times higher than the natural baseline. This is largely due to human activities like deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and climate change.
This loss, of course, threatens essential ecosystem services, including pollination, soil fertility, and water purification, with direct consequences for human health. For example, the degradation of wetlands, which filter freshwater, has led to a 35 per cent decline in global wetland coverage since 1970, increasing waterborne diseases and reducing water availability for over 2 billion people.
Let's work together to maintain biological diversity on Earth. We can take actions at various levels, from personal choices to supporting large-scale conservation efforts. Protecting natural habitats, controlling invasive species, and reducing pollution are crucial steps. Also, raising awareness and educating the public about the importance of biodiversity can inspire broader support for conservation initiatives, just like me.
#InternationalDayforBiologicalDiversity
Just to let you know that Jews, Christians and Muslims lived in relative peace in the Levant before the rise of Zionism and Arab nationalism, especially before the establishment of Israel in 1948.
"Let us protect brotherhood and unity like the pupil of our eye"
~ Josip Broz Tito
~ Josip Broz Tito
Happy Africa Day, 25 May, 2025. 2025 Theme: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”. Today marks 62 years since the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of African Union (AU).
This theme conveys the message that justice is not a destination, it is a continuous demand for truth, for dignity, and for leadership that reflects the realities of African people. Now more than ever, that demand must be inclusive.
Reparations are not only about the past, they are about restoring futures. Futures stolen through systemic exclusion. This includes the exclusion of women and youth from many fields. If we are serious about justice for Africans and people of African descent, we must be committed to redistributing opportunity and power.
Let us all come together to help the African people in their development. Together with the African Union and the United Nations, let's develop Africa together. Long live African unity!
#AfricaDay
This theme conveys the message that justice is not a destination, it is a continuous demand for truth, for dignity, and for leadership that reflects the realities of African people. Now more than ever, that demand must be inclusive.
Reparations are not only about the past, they are about restoring futures. Futures stolen through systemic exclusion. This includes the exclusion of women and youth from many fields. If we are serious about justice for Africans and people of African descent, we must be committed to redistributing opportunity and power.
Let us all come together to help the African people in their development. Together with the African Union and the United Nations, let's develop Africa together. Long live African unity!
#AfricaDay
I will change the name of my main Facebook account (this one) from "Sofia Rina" to "Sofia Florina" on 1 June, 2025. 📜✒️
Thank you to President Prabowo Subianto for giving a signal that Indonesia may establish diplomatic relations with the Israel only if Israel recognizes sovereignty of Palestine. Of course this is quite controversial but it is the only way.
Hopefully, if one day Israel recognizes sovereignty of Palestine and then Indonesia recognizes sovereignty of Israel, I hope that can change Indonesian people's sentiments towards Israel, which mostly bad.
Indeed, war will not bring any benefit to any party. So yes, two-state solution, no more compromise. We must all strive to make this happen as much as we can as part of the international community. There is no need to debate about this.
https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-open-to-ties-with-israel-if-it-recognizes-palestine-prabowo-says
Hopefully, if one day Israel recognizes sovereignty of Palestine and then Indonesia recognizes sovereignty of Israel, I hope that can change Indonesian people's sentiments towards Israel, which mostly bad.
Indeed, war will not bring any benefit to any party. So yes, two-state solution, no more compromise. We must all strive to make this happen as much as we can as part of the international community. There is no need to debate about this.
https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-open-to-ties-with-israel-if-it-recognizes-palestine-prabowo-says
Happy International Sex Workers' Day, 2 June, 2025. Today marks 50 years of this celebration. The Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP), as the international organisation that advocates the health and human rights of sex workers, currently have 369 members (local sex workers organisation) in 111 countries.
Sex workers, like many other workers in informal sectors, are often excluded from social protection systems like safe works conditions, maximum work hours and minimum wages. The criminalisation of sex work and failure to recognise this as work make them excluded and it results in the systematic violation of their human rights.
Sex work is first and foremost and income-generating activity that encompasses diverse workplaces and working arrangements. This work exists all over the world and throughout history. They have to be criminalised, protected and regulated.
If you want to see the legal status of sex work, you can see the map here: https://www.nswp.org/sex-work-laws-map. This map is very comprehensive in mapping the legal status of sex work.
#InternationalSexWorkersDay
Sex workers, like many other workers in informal sectors, are often excluded from social protection systems like safe works conditions, maximum work hours and minimum wages. The criminalisation of sex work and failure to recognise this as work make them excluded and it results in the systematic violation of their human rights.
Sex work is first and foremost and income-generating activity that encompasses diverse workplaces and working arrangements. This work exists all over the world and throughout history. They have to be criminalised, protected and regulated.
If you want to see the legal status of sex work, you can see the map here: https://www.nswp.org/sex-work-laws-map. This map is very comprehensive in mapping the legal status of sex work.
#InternationalSexWorkersDay
Happy World Environment Day, 5 June, 2025. 2025 Theme: "Beat Plastic Pollution". As we know that plastic pollution pervades every corner of our beloved Earth, even in our bodies in the form of microplastics so it is our responsibility to reduce plastic.
Plastic, of course, has revolutionised so many aspects of our lives, contributing significant advances in areas like food hygiene. However, without action to deal with waste plastic, pollution will remain an issue. We need to know and understand how bad plastics in long term.
There are many ways to tackle this problem. Recycling is the easiest way that everyone can do. Actions to clean up rubbish from rivers or beaches also have a big impact. You can read more about it here: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/06/world-environment-day-plastic-pollution-solutions/
#WorldEnvironmentDay
Plastic, of course, has revolutionised so many aspects of our lives, contributing significant advances in areas like food hygiene. However, without action to deal with waste plastic, pollution will remain an issue. We need to know and understand how bad plastics in long term.
There are many ways to tackle this problem. Recycling is the easiest way that everyone can do. Actions to clean up rubbish from rivers or beaches also have a big impact. You can read more about it here: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/06/world-environment-day-plastic-pollution-solutions/
#WorldEnvironmentDay
Sofia Florina
Happy World Environment Day, 5 June, 2025. 2025 Theme: "Beat Plastic Pollution". As we know that plastic pollution pervades every corner of our beloved Earth, even in our bodies in the form of microplastics so it is our responsibility to reduce plastic. …
Time is running out, and nature is in emergency mode. To keep global warming below 1.5°C this century, we must halve annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Without action, exposure to air pollution beyond safe guidelines will increase by 50 per cent within the decade and plastic waste flowing into aquatic ecosystems will nearly triple by 2040. Let's join the #BeatPlasticPollution movement, because together we can create a healthier future for our future generations.