The mascot for the upcoming Jubilee in 2025 is called Luce. Designed by tokidoki, the brand even called this project for the Vatican «historic» on its Instagram profile. Luce will accompany the faithful throughout the Jubilee year, filled with pilgrimage and prayer. The concept behind Luce aims to introduce our beloved pop culture into an institution like the Church, with the intention of achieving this with the help of Tokidoki, which has been a key figure in the kawaii community since 2005.
«I grew up in Rome, my hometown, in a Catholic family where I learned the principles of a faith based on generosity and respect for others,» tokidoki shared on Instagram. The mascot was also present at yesterday’s press conference at the Vatican, introduced by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who explained that the project arises “from the desire to embrace pop culture, so beloved by our youth.” It’s certainly an attempt to bring Gen Z closer to such an important (and ancient) event as the Jubilee, which takes place every fifteen years. Whether the Church will succeed in this goal remains to be seen, and we’ll likely only find out once the Jubilee is over.
«In my work, I am fortunate to connect with the many cultures of the world, constantly seeking a contemporary and universal language that I strive to bring into my compositions,» tokidoki continued, echoing Fisichella’s words. This is undoubtedly an attempt to engage Gen Z with a significant event like the Jubilee, held every twenty five years. Only time will tell if the Church will achieve this goal, but we’ll have a better understanding once the Jubilee concludes.
