The Vatican has introduced a new mascot, named Luce, to celebrate the upcoming 2025 Jubilee, designed with the look of an anime character.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who heads the Church's jubilee planning, shared that Luce was created "to step into the world of pop culture, so beloved by our youth". 

Luce, meaning 'light' in Latin, was crafted by Simone Legno, co-founder of the Italian brand Tokidoki, which draws inspiration from Japanese culture.

Luce’s design is rooted in the idea of a pilgrim, with 'shining eyes' and a symbol of hope, embodying Christian themes alongside Japanese pop culture elements.

Luce’s 'pilgrim friends'-Fe, Xin, and Sky were also designed by Legno.

The Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelisation will introduce 'Luce and friends' at the Lucca Comics and Games convention in Italy, a first for the Church.

According to the Vatican, this event aims to engage younger generations around the theme of hope, central to the Church’s message.

Luce's unveiling has drawn mixed reactions online.

One X user posted in support of the mascot, saying: "Luce is the best Evangelization strategy the Vatican has ever came up with. Its just amazing," while another wasn't sold on the idea, saying: "This feels weird to me".

Luce will also be featured as the Vatican's mascot at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, where the Holy See will present a collaborative pavilion with Italy.