The Vatican’s new anime girl mascot,Luce, is taking the world by storm. It’s no secret that anime has had a dramatic impact over the years with how much it connects with fans, especially in the younger demographics. After all, Hayao Miyazaki’s filmThe Boy and the Heronbecamethe first anime to win Best Animated Feature at the Golden Globesearlier this year, as well asthe Oscar for the same category. This cements the medium as incredibly popular today, and one of the most influential organizations on Earth has taken notice.
On October 28th, 2024,the Vatican unveiled a new mascot named Luceto represent their upcoming 2025 Jubilee next year, and the design is clearly anime-inspired. She has blue hair and big bright blue eyes, mirroring a traditional anime style. She’s depicted as a traveler with green boots caked in mud, donning a bright yellow rain jacket and carrying a walking stick. Around her neck is a rosary, signifying her faith in the Catholic Church. It’s an adorable design that has already blown up on the internet, and her popularity is likely to grow even larger when the Jubilee kicks off in 2025.
Everything You Need to Know About Luce
An Icon for a New Generation of Faithfuls
Despite Luce’s simplistic design,there’s actually a lot of meaning behind it that ties into what the Vatican and Catholics believe.For instance, her name is Italian for “light,” which is a symbol that is prevalent in numerous religions to indicate a path toward salvation and prosperity. Her yellow rainjacket also holds significant meaning, as it mirrors the color of the Vatican’s flag. Her walking stick represents pilgrimage, which is common for many religious people to partake in visiting holy sites, while her muddy boots represent the long and difficult road one takes to reach that point.
It’s a fascinating way to personify the Catholic Church and the Vatican itself into one character, and designer Simone Legno of TokiDoki undeniably did an excellent job with it. What’s even more fascinating is that they didn’t stop with Luce herself.Legno also created a group of friends for Luce to pal along with on her journey to the Vatican, including three human characters, a dog, an angel, and a dove. It’s clear thatSanrio’sHello Kittyfranchiseplayed a major influence in Luce’s creation, and the inclusion of additional characters in Luce’s world perfectly showcases this.
In a Bid to Appeal to Younger Christians, Luce Takes the Internet by Storm
Anime Proves to Be Universal
To say that Luce has been widely received would be an understatement. When she was originally created,the Vatican planned for Luce to appeal to younger members of the Church, with Archbishop Fisichella stating, as reported byYouTuber Lessons in Meme Culture, that she was born from inspiration to have Catholicism “live even within the pop culture so beloved by our youth.“However, when she was revealed, the internet fell in love with her adorable design.Fan art, appreciation posts, and more have been circulating the web rapidly, making her one of the most talked about memes in the final leg of 2024.
Luce is undeniably one of the most unexpected pieces of anime culture to come out of a pretty tumultuous year. With how divisive landscapes have been in various fields such as politics and pop culture, it’s refreshing to see such an adorable creation warm the hearts of many, whether they’re religious or not.Luceis a viral sensation for theVatican, and it’s a welcome addition to online culture as the world falls in love with her adorable design.
