Introducing ‘Luce’: The Vatican’s first-ever mascot and symbol of hope for Jubilee 2025​​​​​​​

Luce, meaning “light” in Italian, is a new anime-inspired mascot created by Italian artist Simone Legno for the Vatican’s 2025 Jubilee celebrations.

Designed to engage younger generations who love anime, Luce sports vibrant blue hair, a rosary, a yellow sailor raincoat, green boots, and carries a staff—each element carrying symbolic meaning.  

The yellow coat, echoing the colors of the Vatican flag, and the green boots represent the long and challenging journey of faith. The staff in her right hand symbolizes the pilgrimage to eternity.

Accompanying Luce on her pilgrimage are her friends Fe, Xin, and Sky, along with Santino, a dog symbolizing San Roque’s loyal canine companion, a patron saint of pilgrims.

A green anchor on one of the characters' caps signifies hope, while a dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit guiding their journey.

The Vatican unveiled Luce and her friends on Monday, positioning them as relatable guides for young people on the path of faith.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the Vatican’s chief organizer for the Jubilee, emphasized that these characters are designed to connect with “the pop culture so beloved by our young people.”

Luce and her friends will make their debut this week at the Lucca Comics and Games convention in Italy, where the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization will host a “Luce and Friends” space.

At a Vatican conference on October 28, Fisichella shared that joining the convention allows the Church to reach out to younger audiences, bringing a message of hope central to the Gospel.

He noted Luce’s glowing eyes as a symbol of hope within the heart. Luce will continue her journey to the Expo 2025 in Osaka, where she will represent the Vatican’s pavilion theme “Beauty Brings Hope,” alongside Caravaggio’s masterpiece “The Entombment of Christ.”