A bishop’s coat of arms is distinguished by a sign of his rank. That sign, placed over the shield, is a particular version of an ecclesiastical hat that was worn in processions, as late as 1870. The hat is low-crowned, flat, and wide-brimmed. On a bishop’s coat of arms, the hat is green and hanging from it are 12 green tassels, six on each side. There’s also a processional cross above the shield. The cross on a bishop’s coat of arms has one bar. The design of the shield itself differs from bishop to bishop.

The shield of Bishop Peter Baldacchino’s coat of arms centrally features Christ crucified. The Cross emerges as a sign of victory over death, represented by the waters of the baptismal font, the source of Christian life. The baptismal font is a reference also to bishop’s own rediscovery of baptism through the Neocatechumenal Way and to the work of evangelization: bringing people to live their baptism so that they may receive divine life.

Beneath the Cross and baptismal font is found an image of a palm tree upon which a lobster rests, a well-known symbol of the early Church, representing the mystery of salvation through baptism. The lobster represents a sea creature, accustomed to living in the waters of sin, who, through the work of the Holy Spirit, can leave behind its natural environment and live upon a palm tree, the symbol of eternity and paradise.

Above the Cross hovers a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, who is the life of the Church, and without whom nothing can be done. In the upper part are found the moon, representing the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Cross of Malta, which is also the star which leads the way to Christ. 

The two blue crosses on either side of the crucifix are adopted from the coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Miami where Bishop Baldacchino was ordained to the episcopacy and served as auxiliary bishop.

The coat of arms is completed with the bishop’s Episcopal Motto. For Bishop Baldacchino, his motto is Ubi Dominus Ibidem Laetitia, which translates to “Where God is, there is Joy.” This motto is taken from Judith 15:10, which references the joy of Israel, and Psalm 67:4, which refers to being joyful in the presence of God. His motto also references Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel.