‘The Last Supper’… ‘The Creation of Adam’... Luce the anime girl?
Step aside classic Catholic art, the Vatican’s got a new mascot, and her name is Luce.
Luce, whose name means ‘light’ in Italian, debuted at Lucca Comic and Games, a video game and fantasy convention in Italy similar to Comic-Con. Luce will represent the Catholic Church as its mascot for the 2025 Jubilee, a holy year of hope, faith, and forgiveness occurring every 25 years, in which millions of pilgrims visit Rome.
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who is organizing the 2025 Jubilee, said that Luce (and her cohort of cutesy friends) is all part of a new strategy on the Vatican’s part to engage youth by using “the pop culture so beloved by our young people.”
Will it work?
Who is Luce?
With giant, glistening eyes, brightly colored clothes, and a big smile, it’s hard to deny that Luce is cute.
Luce (and her cadre of friends and faithful dog Santino) are the work of popular Italian artist Simone Legno, who was commissioned by the Vatican and who designed her with Japanese anime in mind.
Luce was “created from the desire to enter into the world of pop culture” according to Archbishop Rino Fisichella, and though her design is unabashedly cute, it’s also full of symbolism.
The yellow raincoat and muddy boots, for example, represent the lengthy pilgrimage many will take during Jubilee 2025. And the scallop shells in her eyes symbolize the Camino de Santiago, a lengthy route taken by pilgrims, once a Roman trading route, where scallop shells are commonly found.
A Kid-Friendly Pivot
A games and comic convention may seem a strange place for a faith one billion strong to unveil a new mascot. But it’s all part of the Catholic Church’s latest attempt to appeal towards the younger generation.
The Catholic Church held a special event to debut Luce at the Lucca Comics and Games convention, where she was a big hit. She will also represent the Vatican at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, next year.
Participating in these events “will allow us to speak to younger generations about the theme of hope, which is more central than ever in the evangelical message,” says Archbishop Fisichella.
Reactions Roll In
Reactions to Luce were mixed online, though there was a single common denominator amongst most responses: Surprise.
After the shock wore off, many admitted they adored the new design.
But others viewed it as a cynical attempt to give Catholicism a kid-friendly rebrand.
And some even found it demonic, pointing to the similarities between ‘Luce’ and ‘Lucifer’ as proof of some sort of sinister motive.
But most of the responses? Good ol’ fashioned memes.
What do you think of Luce? Since her debut, fan art of her has flooded the internet. But do you think her cutesy design will actually bring more young people to the Catholic faith?
And was this necessary? Did the Catholic Church really need an anime-inspired mascot? Should a faith’s values speak for itself, or is a little marketing okay - even for one of the world’s biggest faiths?
60 comments
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Lisa Kay Graham
Children like animals better then animated characters of people they like animals better cute, fluffy little animals
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Jason Allan Clark
I think it's absolutely wonderful! What a creative way to bring the church to younger generations.
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Alejandro Medina de Wit
This kid/mascot will be abused by some perverted bishop, no doubt
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Warren Calvin Wall
How long has the LGBTQRST been hiding in the church? How long have church officials been raping children? I don't believe that the timelines coincide. The RCC has stayed well staffed with child abusers for centuries. How many wards of the church that are abused become clergy and abusers? Now they have created an new Light (bringer?) to entice more victims. You can't absolve the church of their sickness by blaming a more contemporary sickness for their crimes. That would be akin to blaming Islam for the Inquisition. It's all evil incarnate.
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Joseph P Aleks
QRST? Regardless of how people label themselves, the acts of the perpetrators define them as LGBT
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Michael Hunt
Where in LGBTQ does pedophilia fit? Last I checked there isn't a P involved with that community. Pedophilia is sexual feelings directed toward children. Being a pedophile doesn't make you gay, it makes you an abuser.
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Father Flanagan
I guess the pedophiles with white collars are running out of children to molest! This is just wrong, more and more people are realizing that there is nothing out there and no one is coming to save them - this life is all you get! The ego and arrogance it takes to basically say that this entire vast universe made up of billions of stars and planets with more than likely has life on many of them was created by a human looking all powerful deity but is only reigning over earth because that’s all that matters out of the billions of other options! But people believe this stuff no matter how incredulous the story, even if the story has no evidence of ever happening they still buy that crap as if it’s real - kinda like how through mass psychosis the democrats and mainstream media has convinced millions of people with absolutely no evidence whatsoever of lies about Donald Trump and then if you ask for one example of let’s say racism - they get angry and incoherent! It’s really crazy what weak minded people who are also lazy will believe without question or facts or evidence!
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Joseph P Aleks
Those old lame false accusations were debunked years ago and revealed to be LGBT actions
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Michael Hunt
They weren't. You're just brainwashed.
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Shawn David Spencer
I don't think that kids should be pressed with religious views. In scripture and following what we know about God's view on temptation we learn that those hosts who are responsible for the tempting and testing of mankind are only allowed to do so once a person has reached the age when they know the difference between right and wrong, sin and virtue. Until then they are innocent souls who know not of the wages of sin. However we also learn that no one is beyond temptation, not even the Son, and all must face this challenge at some point. So it is because of this factor that I do not think religion should be pressed upon those who do not know the difference or the value of living a righteous life, they must come to that decision on their own without the institutionalized indoctrination that many have come to see the church as being.
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Cynthia A. Hannah
Luce does not represent society she needs to be multicultural Minister Hannah
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Daniel Todd Kamm
I'll stick with Bugs Bunny, Popeye, the Flintstones and other oldies... even that spaz, Roger Rabbit! The subject is a creepy little "creation" isn't she...? Is the antagonist a perp already, or do we have to wait for that "red" and "racist" fellow to entice one?
Today's Tech sometimes freaks me out....
Peace... Reb tk
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Rev Ned
Gotta groom those kids so that they grow up, attending mandated mass every week and PTL (Passing The Loot) keeping the business rolling in the dough. All those fancy idols are not cheap.
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David Ferguson
Why does it look like their shoes have blood on them? I mean, the Catholic record with children and babies is already pretty damming.
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Linda Lopez
All I can really say is WOW 😮
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JaZe
What s with the eyes of Luce? It looks like she s permanently crying. With good reason, no doubt. It doesnt exude any light anyway. A play on 'I m the Light and the Way'? oh please.
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Teresa Freeman
Food for thought , the Roman Catholic church along with powerful pagan leaders, changed the day of our commanded sabbath , and the Israelites were killed if they didn't adapt, Whom were God's Chosen people , there's flaws in every Sunday keeping church , for it's a pagan day of worship , God will know his people by the laws we keep , Jesus didn't redeem us from the Law , he redeemed us from the statutes and rituals of sacrifice , And Idol worship is one of God's pet peeves, but our six thousand probation is nearly over , and all confusion and the destruction of children will be Over
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Teresa Freeman
Food for thought , the Roman Catholic church along with powerful pagan leaders, changed the day of our commanded sabbath , and the Israelites were killed if they didn't adapt, Whom were God's Chosen people , there's flaws in every Sunday keeping church , for it's a pagan day of worship , God will know his people by the laws we keep , Jesus didn't redeem us from the Law , he redeemed us from the statutes and rituals of sacrifice , And Idol worship is one of God's pet peeves, but our six thousand probation is nearly over , and all confusion and the destruction of children will be Over
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JaZe
The church s motto is 'catch them early' meaning start brain washing people at an early age and they've been very successful. Over the centuries how much hate and persecution have they generated?
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Donald G Magel
Are the priests etc. running out of children to molest? The pope cannot have that happen! He would not have any of "god's men" left to send him cash.
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Patricia Ann Gross
It is a lesson that needs to be learned by all churches interested in evangelism that you go to your audience with something they will understand. If you go with pagan symbols you will attract/convert the pagans, which was how Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny co-opted the "Christian" holy days. Telling people that they are garbage, and the only way out is your religion causes their ears to shut off at "garbage." This is why gay people have left churches in droves. It's time the Catholic Church tried to bring people into the church using something they could identify with in a positive way. I'm not sure that targeting children at this point in time is the wisest decision, however, for the same reason some have mentioned already. But, who knows maybe the church will learn something positive as well. Diversity of thought, even in theology, is not a bad thing.
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Joseph P Aleks
The problem is the dangerous LGBT belief system that churches have a responsibility to call out
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Patricia Ann Gross
Last I knew, LGBT is not a belief system, so I'm not sure what you are saying here.
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Joseph P Aleks
That's exactly what it is. It's dogma is the presumed existence of human traits of sexual orientation and gender identity, which are both dangerous myths.
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Krissy Elaine Hutson-Poole
You should really do your own research on things. Basically every animal on earth has same sex pairings, bisexual tendencies, and some can even change their gender! We are also animals.
While being straight is presumed to be the default, it is not the only way. You shame yourself by trying to pass blame on those you do not understand.
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Joseph P Aleks
All of this is true. There is also history of pedophilia being beneficial for all involved- only if kept properly confidential of course. However, while sexuality between females has a history of being generally harmless, the opposite is true of sexuality between males in us humans, leading to widespread social calamitous effects such as AIDS or males actually falsely claiming to be female.
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Michael Hunt
"There is also history of pedophilia being beneficial for all involved- only if kept properly confidential of course." No, there's no history of pedophilia being beneficial. Where did you get these deranged ideas?
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Joseph P Aleks
There is more evidence of pedophilia being beneficial than there is of homosexuality being beneficial. But all of the evidence consists solely of opinions which can be neither proved nor disproved. But there is no difference in reality between pedophilia and the rest of LGBT. Just because the victims happen to be older doesn't somehow magically make it all OK by calling it LGBT
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John W
Fine idea so long as they keep the pedophile priests/monks and the sadistic nuns away from the kids. (Had a finger broken by a nun in elementary school because I couldn't properly memorize an assignment.)
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Shelby
The Catholic Church was just forced to pay $1 Billion in damages to the 1000 children that were sexually assaulted by the clergy in California. Leave the children alone you freaks!!!
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Joseph P Aleks
It was not the church that was to blame, but LGBT pretending tom be church people to troll for new victims
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Patricia Sydney Solis
It's Anima, disguised as Anime! The desperate need for union with the feminine, cut out by the Catholic Church and still not allowed inside the hearts of men, is now luring them via a jejune cartoon game with a female protagonist! Propaganda. Reminds me of the movie Metropolis. Bring back Mary Magdalene, Anima, the feeling, related side of the psyche and Eros, and then the Church will reconnect to soul to balance out the decay of the masculine stuck in power and control rather than united in spirit and soul.
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Robert James Ruhnke
I think the early Catholic Church tried to make the Virgin Mary and Mother Mary prominent as their way of honoring the old goddesses who graced Rome. I guess it’s why I have a soft spot for Catholics and Lutherans, but kind of harsh with a lot of Protestants with their disdain for women and femininity. I do agree with your view. I think too many men forget their X chromosomes come from women.
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Ricky Ross
Reverend Rick Ross
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Theresa C. Marquess
Is there going to also be an anime character of a nun with an 18" ruler? Does the church really need to be this far reaching to entice membership?
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Rev Ned
Yes, they do. The Shakers believe in total separation of the sexes. I recently read that there’s only 2 of them left.
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Nicholas J Page
This could only happen from The Vatican after all they have been covering up child abuse for years. Is this another way to lure children to peados that springs to my mind.
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Joseph P Aleks
NOT the church- but LGBT hiding out in church settings to troll for new victims and try to blame the innocent
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Krissy Elaine Hutson-Poole
It must be sad to be this delusional.
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Joseph P Aleks
What's even sadder is trying to put the blame for LGBT predation on innocent Church people
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Michael Hunt
LGBTQ people are not preying on people in the Church. They're simply asking to be allowed to exist without discrimination and hatred being directed at them.
The Catholic Church, however, has a well documented history of protecting clergy who are pedophiles and sexual abusers. Not a single one of those predators would call themselves LGBTQ or identify with that community.
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Joseph P Aleks
NOT the church- but LGBT hiding out in church settings to troll for new victims and try to blame the innocent
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
Does nothing to convince me that my decision to leave the Catholic Church in March 1975 was wrong.
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John Condron
It does seem like the Catholic church ought to avoid any suggestion they are trying to entice children.
What's next? Candy from a windowless white van?
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Alexander Clarke
What could possibly go wrong!
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Stacey Owens
It's a man made device to draw children to the catholic religion: (Not to Jesus Christ). Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. Not animation. This lacks the Holy Spirit.
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Joseph P Aleks
It's not the church that's to blame, but LGBT pretending to be church people to troll for new victims
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Krissy Elaine Hutson-Poole
This NEVER HAPPENS. If you genuinely believe this, all I can wonder is if you got this from the church you're trying to defend. If that's your source, it seems extremely suspect.
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Joseph P Aleks
That is the ONLY way it happens. The actions of the perpetrators define them as LGBT, regardless of what they may pretend to be.
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Michael Hunt
I'm pretty sure the Church covering up pedophilia and sexual abuse by their clergy is a reason to blame them. LGBTQ people aren't pretending to be faith leaders so they can abuse children. There's zero evidence to support that statement. Abusing children does not make someone LGBTQ; that community vehemently condemns sexual violence.
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Joseph P Aleks
While LGBT apologists may try to claim that pedophilia is not part of their spectrum, the fact remains that there are a number of categories. One that clearly does not belong is the L. Women are nothing like pedophiles or males falsely claiming to be female. And the transgender part is far worse than the pedophile part of LGBT.
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Michael Hunt
Lets be very clear here, pedophiles are not welcomed by the LGBTQ community and pedophiles harming children are far, far worse than transgender persons existing. You simply hate this group for being different than you.
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Colleen McAllister
Much ado about nothing
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Rev. BH
Other than the creepy, empty eyes and the barbecue fork, I guess she's OK. Reminds me of a Teletubby.
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Pastor Lyn
You are the first person since the voting catastrophe to make me laugh. Thank you
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Reverend Paula Copp
This is probably the most pathetic excuse of a plea to renew the church as I could possibly imagine! Japanese style Anime? Seriously, WTH?
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Rev. Mike Eggleston
It's indicative of just how desperate the christian chuch is to ensnare more victims.
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Lionheart
It's what churches and families do best. They teach children the reality of Santa Claus, and the Tooth Fairy, Then they entice them with Religion because children are so vulnerable. The children later come to realize the first two are false, but indoctrinations continue with the other one with threats of Hell if they stop believing. It's actually mental abuse, and even more so if the indoctrination is Islam.
🦁♥️
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Rev. BH
Lionheart, Santa, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny brought me goodies. The church never "enticed" me with anything. Just a big spooky, echo-y building with scary statues and scarier Stations of the Cross, wanting me to eat the body and blood of a 2000 year old guy. No enticement there. Quite the opposite.
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People constantly piss and moan about the main line churches being so dull, so boring. The liturgy is this or it’s that, the same old hymns, stand up sit down, blah blah blah. So they try to spruce it up a bit here and there, starting with the younger members and all you can think of is every bad thing that has befallen the church. If you’re not Catholic, leave it alone. If you are and you think bad of it talk to your Parish Priest. This is really not worth the waste of hot air.