Luce (mascot)

• 1. Introduction

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  Luce arrived on the 28th of October 2024 as the official mascot of the Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee. Designed by Simone Legno of the brand tokidoki, she had blue hair and looked, to many observers, like a character from Japanese animation. The internet noticed immediately. Not everyone was charmed. The Vatican had walked into a cultural conversation it had not planned to control. What design choices produced this reaction? And why did the colors of her rosary become a separate argument entirely?

• 2. Symbols Sewn In

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  Archbishop Fisichella said Luce was inspired by the Church's desire "to live even within the pop culture so beloved by our youth." Her yellow color was chosen to match the Vatican City flag and also stands for endurance through difficulty. The mud on her boots evokes a long and difficult journey. Her pilgrim's staff points toward the concept of a pilgrimage toward eternity. She travels with companions: a dog named Santino and three friends named Fe, Xin, and Sky.

  The scallop shell has been a mark of Catholic pilgrimage for centuries. Luce carries that symbol in her eyes, with highlights shaped into the shell's outline. Her eyes were described as a symbol of hope. Simone Legno said he hoped Luce could "represent the sentiments that resonate in the hearts of the younger generations."

• 3. Memes, Anime, and Buddy Christ

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  Twitter users circulated comparisons between Luce and Ai Ohto, the protagonist of Wonder Egg Priority, within hours of her unveiling. Others drew parallels with Rei Ayanami from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Emanuele Vietina, director of Lucca Comics & Games, noted that Luce shared characteristics with Arale Norimaki from Dr. Slump. The Catholic Church, in the estimation of many fans, had inadvertently created an anime character.

  Traditionalist Catholics called Luce "too modern and silly" to represent the faith. Others focused on the multi-colored World Mission rosary around her neck, claiming its colors resembled the pride flag. Defenders pointed to the rosary's origin: Fulton Sheen created the World Mission rosary, and its colors carry a specific devotional history unconnected to modern symbolism.

  Ken Iikura-Gross of Anime News Network compared the Vatican's approach to Buddy Christ, the fictional redesign of Jesus in the 1999 film Dogma. In that film, Buddy Christ is a friendly, relatable figure aimed at drawing younger audiences to Catholicism. Kevin Smith, the director of Dogma, offered his own reading: "Buddy Christ winked so Luce could dilate."

• 4. From Italy to Asia

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  Lucca Comics & Games in 2024 marked the first time the Vatican had officially participated in a comic convention. Luce served as the Holy See's representative, and a large inflatable display of her became a popular spot for selfies. She also appeared at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.

  In Hong Kong and Indonesia, Catholic schools distributed dolls, key chains, bookmarks, stickers, and other merchandise featuring Luce. Some schools incorporated her image into lessons on prayer. Bishop Joseph Ha, OFM, of the Diocese of Hong Kong wrote that Luce was immediately welcomed by church members, especially teenagers and children. "To this day," he added, "Luce and her friends can be seen in many chapels and schools."