The Vatican unveils mascot, an anime character known as Luce

[Enter Stage Rite]

She’s no Pope in a puffer jacket, but she comes a close second. The Vatican is lighting up the pop culture world with a new face—an anime mascot named Luce. Designed to connect with younger audiences and promote the Holy Year 2025, Luce embodies the Jubilee’s theme of Pilgrims of Hope.

 

With her blue hair and bright yellow raincoat, Luce symbolizes navigating life’s storms with faith. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who unveiled Luce on October 28, 2024, emphasized that the Church wants to reach young people where they are, embracing the culture that resonates with them today.

 

 

Created by Simone Legno, cofounder of the pop-culture brand tokidoki, Luce is dressed as a pilgrim, equipped with mud-stained boots, a staff, and a scallop-shaped sparkle in her eyes—a symbol of the hope in one’s heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by tokidoki (@simonelegno)

 

 

Her yellow raincoat draws inspiration from the colors of the Vatican flag, and her journey as a pilgrim aims to remind people of the long and often challenging path of faith. Legno hopes that Luce captures emotions that resonate with the younger generation.

 

 

Luce is not alone in her mission. She has a pet dog named Santino and will be accompanied by friends Fe, Xin, and Sky at international events. The mascot will officially debut at Lucca Comics and Games in Italy, one of the country’s major pop culture conventions, before heading to Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Through these appearances, the Vatican hopes Luce will represent the Church’s message of unity and spiritual renewal.

 

This mix of tradition with modern elements is intended to make spirituality more relatable and accessible, while highlighting core values like hope and forgiveness. The Holy Year 2025, set to run from December 2024 to January 2026, will be a time for reflection, and Luce’s role is to illuminate that journey for young pilgrims across the globe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Giubileo 2025 (@iubilaeum25)

 

 

• https://metro.co.uk/2024/10/29/vatican-unveils-new-mascot-anime-character-called-luce-21883416/ 
• https://www.vice.com/en/article/luce-vatican-anime-mascot-jubilee-year-catholic-church/ 
• https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/luce-vatican-mascot-jubilee-2025.html 
• https://thedialog.org/vatican-news/archbishop-rino-fisichella-of-dicastery-for-evangelization-unveils-official-mascot-of-the-holy-year-2025-luce/ 

 

 

 

Opening image: Maxironwas | Dreamstime.com and Vatican News