Luce, the mascot of hope
On the threshold of the Jubilee Year 2025
On Tuesday 24 December, Pope Francis will officially open the Holy Year with the rite of Opening of the Holy Door in Saint Peter’s Basilica. The groundwork continues to be laid for this major Church event. At a press conference on 28 October, His Excellency Archbishop Fisichella, the archbishop in charge of organising the Jubilee 2025, officially presented the mascot for the Jubilee 2025, ‘Luce’.
Luce, a character rich in symbolism
Luce, the mascot, takes the form of a brightly coloured character. Luce (Italian for ‘light’) is a blue-haired pilgrim and wears the typical traveller’s outfit:
- A yellow k-way in the Vatican colours, to protect her from the elements and symbolise the ‘journey through the storms of life’,
- Mud-stained boots to show how far we’ve already come, representing ‘a long and difficult journey’,
- The pilgrim’s staff to evoke ‘the pilgrimage towards eternity’,
- A missionary cross around her neck.
Luce’s eyes are huge and encrusted with scallops, the traditional symbol of Catholic pilgrimage. They shine with an intense light to represent hope and perseverance in the faith.
But Luce is not alone. She is accompanied by the dog Santino (the name given to pious images in Italy), a symbol of friendship and fidelity, Aura (Italian for breeze), the dove, a symbol of purity, and finally Iubi (short for Jubilee), the guardian angel who represents the presence of God and offers courage in times of suffering.
She is also in the company of three pilgrim friends: Fe (‘faith’ in Spanish), Xin (‘truth’ in Japanese) and Sky.
Unity and diversity
This mascot, which looks like a manga hero, aims to involve new generations and encourage intergenerational dialogue. Simone Legno, an artist specialising in illustration and the creator of Luce, said he hoped that ‘Luce could represent the feelings that resonate in the hearts of younger generations’.
Luce was also designed to reflect the diversity and universality of the event.
With Luce and her companions, let’s set off on the paths of hope.
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- Image digitally created by spazio+spadoni