IN AN attempt to appeal to the younger generation of the Catholic Church, the Vatican has unveiled an anime-inspired and pilgrim-styled mascot called “Luce” to mark the upcoming Jubilee Year 2025.
According to Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the Vatican’s chief organizer for the jubilee, “Luce” was designed to depict a pilgrim using pop culture.
“It is Luce, created from the desire to enter also into the world of pop culture, so loved by our young people,” Fisichella, also pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization, said during a press conference on Oct. 28.
“She (Luce) is a pilgrim depicted with the typical elements of the pilgrim: the yellow windcheater for protection from the elements, muddy boots from the road travelled, the missionary cross around her neck, the pilgrim’s staff and above all, shining eyes, symbol of the hope of the heart,” he added.
Also outlined in her big blue eyes are scallop shells, the famous emblem of St. James, the patron saint of pilgrims, and of the Camino de Santiago where the saint is supposedly buried.
The Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year’s motto is “Pilgrims of Hope.”
“Luce,” the Vatican’s first-ever mascot, was named after the Italian word for “light.”
Italian artist Simone Legno also designed “pilgrim friends” to accompany the anime-inspired mascot: Fe (“faith” in Spanish), Xin (“truth” in Japanese), and Sky.
Joining them are a small dog called Santino, a dove named Aura, and a guardian angel named Lubi from the shortened iubilaeum, or “jubilee” in Latin.
For Jiro Benito, president of the UST Pax Romana Central Coordinating Council, the mascot is an “unconventional but interesting way of marketing” that could even be relatable to Thomasians due to her yellow raincoat.
“It’s a good way to capture their (youth) attention and could be a gateway to deepening their understanding of the point of the jubilee year, and ultimately their role in the Church.”
In line with the 2025 Jubilee Year motto, Benito cited the Tria Haec on top of the Main Building, which has a statue symbolizing hope.
“Thomasians are made aware of hope, through the Tria Haec…Luce, as a pilgrim, has the opportunity to show us how our pilgrimage towards Christ also needs joy and hope,” he told the Varsitarian.
“Luce’s imagery provides us with the image that despite the world’s roughness and despair, Christ, our light, will continue to illuminate our journey.”
UST Institute of Religion theology instructor Andrew Chanco also lauded the effort, saying Luce was “cute and very timely,” especially during a time when the youth is drawn to “stuffed toys,” such as the famous Sonny Angels, Labubu, Hirono, and other pop culture items.
“This (Luce) could spark curiosity and expose them (youth) to what is happening to the Church now that we are looking forward to the celebration of the Jubilee,” Chanco said.
“It is a manifestation that the Church would like to reach, especially to the young people of today.”
The chibi character is set to debut officially in the first week of November at Lucca Comics and Games, a pop culture convention in Italy.
This is the first time a Vatican dicastery will participate in a comics convention.
Luce will also appear at the Vatican’s pavilion at Expo 2025, which is set for April to October 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
The 2025 Jubilee Year will begin this Christmas Eve with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Thirty million pilgrims are expected to flock to Rome. With reports from Reya Vincent P. Misa
