“to live even within the pop culture so beloved by our youth,” Archbishop Fisichella shared about Luce.
Yes, you read that right, the holy church of the Vatican just released a Catholic anime mascot for next year’s Jubilee!
Archbishop Rino Fisichella unveiled “Luce,” the cartoon mascot for Holy Year 2025 designed by Simone Legno. Her name means “light” in Italian, and is aimed to symbolize hope and faith, as well as highlight the importance of connecting contemporary culture and traditional spiritual belief.
What Is Luce Made Out Of
Luce will debut at Lucca Comics and Games and represent the Holy See at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. And if you’re wondering what each part of her outfit represents, then we’ve got you:
- Yellow raincoat & green mud-stained boots represent the colors of the Vatican flag alongside “journey through life’s storms.”
- Colorful rosary and pilgrim’s staff symbolizes the strong Catholic faith.
- Scallop-shell eyes are the traditional symbols of hope and pilgrimage.
Netizen’s Take on Luce
Anime fans with a Catholic background have warmly embraced Luce, captivated by her charming personality and positive representation. However, some netizens have expressed concerns about the implications of her name. While “Luce” means “light,” it has a linguistic connection to “Lucifer,” a name often associated with the fallen angel. This sparked a conversation online about the symbolism behind names. Although fans love Luce as a mascot, they shared that it’s also important to consider who is representing us and the messages that names can convey.
So, what do you think about this new addition for the upcoming 2025 Jubilee? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
I suggest calling her Lucia, a name also meaning light and the the name of Sister Lucia who was one of the three children of Fatima. A beautiful name and less confusion in English.