The Vatican's new anime girl mascot, Luce, is taking the world by storm. It's no secret that anime has had a dramatic impact over the years with how much it connects with fans, especially in the younger demographics. After all, Hayao Miyazaki's film The Boy and the Heron became the first anime to win Best Animated Feature at the Golden Globes earlier this year, as well as the Oscar for the same category. This cements the medium as incredibly popular today, and one of the most influential organizations on Earth has taken notice.

On October 28th, 2024, the Vatican unveiled a new mascot named Luce to represent their upcoming 2025 Jubilee next year, and the design is clearly anime-inspired. She has blue hair and big bright blue eyes, mirroring a traditional anime style. She's depicted as a traveler with green boots caked in mud, donning a bright yellow rain jacket and carrying a walking stick.