Luce (Italian: [ˈluːtʃe], lit. 'Light') is the official mascot of the 2025 Jubilee. Designed by tokidoki founder Simone Legno, she represents a Catholic pilgrim. Luce has a pet dog named Santino and friends named Fe, Xin, and Sky. The designs of Luce and her friends have been compared to anime characters.[1]
| Luce | |
|---|---|
 Official artwork of Luce | |
| First appearance | October 28, 2024 |
| Created by | Simone Legno |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Pilgrim |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Description
Luce has blue hair and wears a yellow rain jacket, which is colored in reference to the flag of the Vatican City as well as a symbol for "journeying through life's storms". She carries a pilgrim's staff, which represents "the pilgrimage toward eternity", and wears mud-stained boots to represent "a long and difficult journey". Her eyes have highlights in the shape of a scallop shell, a traditional symbol of Catholic pilgrimage, as shells were used in place of a chalice before they were commonplace; her shining eyes were described as "a symbol of the hope of the heart". Luce also wears a rosary around her neck. Simone Legno, Luce's designer, said that he hoped "Luce can represent the sentiments that resonate in the hearts of the younger generations".[2]
History
Luce was unveiled by Archbishop Rino Fisichella of the Dicastery for Evangelization on October 28, 2024. He said that Luce was inspired by the Catholic Church's desire "to live even within the pop culture so beloved by our youth".[3] Luce is planned to represent the Holy See at Lucca Comics & Games in 2024, the first time that the Vatican officially participates in a comic convention, as well as at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.[2][4]
Reception
Following Luce's unveiling, she quickly spawned Internet memes and fan art.[5] Users on websites such as Twitter made jokes about the Catholic Church embracing anime visuals, and some drew comparisons between Luce's design and the design of Ai Ohto, the protagonist of Wonder Egg Priority,[6] and also to Rei Ayanami, a blue-haired character from Neon Genesis Evangelion.[7]
References
- ^ Peters, Megan (October 28, 2024). "The Vatican Goes Full Anime With New Catholic Mascot: Watch Now". ComicBook.com. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Mares, Courtney (October 28, 2024). "Meet 'Luce': The Vatican's cartoon mascot for Jubilee 2025". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ McLellan, Justin (October 28, 2024). "Archbishop Rino Fisichella of Dicastery for Evangelization unveils official mascot of the Holy Year 2025: 'Luce'". The Dialog. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ "Dome and the Rising Sun for Expo 2025 in Osaka". AsiaNews. October 28, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ Leib, Rebecca (October 30, 2024). "The Vatican randomly dropped their new anime mascot and it is polarizing the internet". The Daily Dot. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- ^ Nazru, Ami (October 29, 2024). "Internet Goes Crazy Over The Vatican's Unveiling Of An Anime-Styled Mascot". Animehunch. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ Placido, Dani Di. "Who Is 'Luce'?—The Anime Mascot Of The Catholic Church, Explained". Forbes. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
