Luce, the Vatican’s viral cartoon mascot

Maria Montemayor

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, presents Luce at a press conference on October 28, 2024. Photo retrieved from the official Jubilee Facebook Page.

Last week, I was surprised to see an unfamiliar character in Catholic memes on my Facebook feed. Who was this character? I soon discovered it was Luce, the Vatican’s new anime-inspired mascot for the 2025 Jubilee designed by illustrator Simone Legno. Luce (pronounced Lu-chay) wears a yellow raincoat representing the Vatican flag, a rosary around her neck, and mud-stained boots. Her raincoat protects her from the elements and symbolizes journeying through life’s storms. She holds a pilgrim’s staff, and the shells that glimmer in her blue eyes recall the scallop shell of the Camino de Santiago. Those big shining eyes symbolize the hope “in the heart of every pilgrim” and “reflect the desire for spirituality and connection with the divine.”

Luce is Italian for “light,” and Luce has certainly been lighting up comment sections in the Catholic sphere. I’ve seen a range of opinions on Luce; there are people who like her and people who are less than impressed. According to Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Luce was part of the Vatican’s goal to engage with “the pop culture so beloved by our young people.” Luce was inspired by anime, which is fitting because she will be the face of the Holy See’s pavilion at Expo 2025 (a World Expo organized and sanctioned by the Bureau International des Expositions) in Osaka, Japan. She will represent the Vatican’s pavilion theme, “Beauty Brings Hope.”

As someone who is a long-time fan of anime, cartoons, Webtoons, and cute merch in general, I was happy to see the Vatican lean into the cartoon craze. I was also happy to see the memes and artwork embracing Luce. Many children, teenagers, and young (and young at heart) adults love cartoons and anime. This past Halloween, I saw children and teenagers dressed up as anime and cartoon characters. In Canada, we have conventions like Comicon and Fan Expo that celebrate fan culture. When I went to Japan earlier this year, I remember scouring Akihabara for merchandise such as stationery, clothing, and more from my favourite anime series. I personally would love to have Luce merch, maybe a plush keychain, because she’s adorable, Catholic, and a representation of my faith.

Luce's introduction to the world isn't without criticism. Some have voiced the concern that a mascot in a contemporary style might dilute or "dumb down" the faith in order to attract young people. To this concern, I would say, Luce belongs to the Vatican. She represents the 2025 Jubilee. She doesn’t “dumb down” the faith. Like all symbols of the Church, she points to our hope in Christ.

Just like I’ve had people ask me about my anime phone charm, and get to know the character and anime through that charm, when other people see her, they’ll get to know about the Catholic faith through her. Not everyone has to like her. She’s only a mascot. But since so many people have welcomed her, I think it’s more beneficial to keep an open mind about the opportunities for evangelization through contemporary culture (she’s so quickly gone viral!), rather than to reject her outright. For this Jubilee year, I hope that Luce brings joy and encouragement to the people who encounter her.