Vatican Introduces Luce Mascot for Jubilee 2025

The Vatican has introduced 'Luce,' an anime-style mascot, as part of its efforts to engage younger audiences ahead of the 2025 Jubilee, a holy year of forgiveness celebrated every 25 years. Designed by Simone Legno, co-founder of the tokidoki brand, Luce symbolizes hope and faith, depicted in a yellow raincoat and mud-stained boots, with shell-patterned eyes representing pilgrimage. Luce will debut at Italy's Lucca Comics and Games convention, marking the Vatican's first participation in a comics event. The mascot aims to appeal to youth by integrating elements of pop culture and will also represent the Vatican at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the chief organizer of the Jubilee, expressed hope that Luce will help spread the evangelical message of hope to a generation familiar with anime.