Luce (center) is the Vatican's cartoon mascot for Jubilee 2025. Image from Simone Legno's Instagram page 

"A symbol of the hope of the heart," said Archbishop Rino Fisichella in a Vatican press conference as he unveiled Luce, the Roman Catholic Church's first-ever mascot, in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee.  

According to the Catholic News Agency (CNA), the mascot is part of the church's efforts to engage its younger members.

The kid-friendly girl mascot and her "pilgrim friends" Fe, Xin, and Sky were designed by Italian artist Simone Legno. They were meant to appeal to those who grew up watching anime.

Archbishop Fisichella, the Vatican's chief organizer of the Jubilee, noted that this cheerful look will allow the church to speak to younger generations about the theme of hope which, for him, is more central than ever in the evangelical message.

Luce, which means light in Italian, is made using the "chibi" art style, known for its short characters with enormous heads and downsized limbs.

According to CNA, the mascot's features -- Luce with Santino at her side, wearing a yellow raincoat and mudded boots -- symbolize perseverance amid life's storms and challenges.

Luce also wears a rosary, a staff symbolizing the pilgrimage toward eternity, and scallop shell eyes known to be a symbol of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.

Kenneth Gallano, a devout youth servant for 14 years, stated that their generation has always been the present and the future of the Church, and that Luce and her friends traveling represent the pilgrims from a long and arduous journey.

"It serves as a reminder for the youth that they are seen and not forgotten by the church… I hope that this new evangelization initiative by the Vatican's Dicastery may inspire more young people to answer God's call of mission and hope," he said. 

Luce is set to debut at the Lucca Comics and Games convention in Italy in the first week of November. It will be the face of the Holy See's pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.

This year's Jubilee will begin with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica on Christmas Eve until the Holy Year ends on January 6, 2026.

The Catholic Church noted that this year’s celebration aspires to center on hope, forgiveness, and holy pilgrimages. Thirty million pilgrims are also expected to participate in Rome, Italy once the Jubilee commences.