Pope's illness hits Vatican souvenir trade

[emad]

Reuters
Wed Mar 2, 2005 1:32 PM GMT

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Pope's stay in hospital, and his absence from the Vatican, is hitting sales of trinkets and keepsakes which usually enjoy a roaring trade around St Peter's Square, souvenir sellers say.

While pilgrims from as far away as Poland and the United States gathered outside the Gemelli hospital hoping to catch a glimpse of Pope John Paul, who is recovering from a throat operation, the Vatican City remained relatively quiet.

"The Pope's presence is important -- more people come and we work more," said one street merchant on who sells rosaries, postcards and pillboxes embossed with images of St Peter's Basilica in front of the massive church.

Usually Wednesdays, like Sundays, bring a busy trade from Catholics who come to hear the Pope's weekly general audience, but the lack of people meant a drop in sales said the hawker, who gave his name as Remo.

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-03-02T133210Z_01_DEN248499_RTRUKOC_0_POPE-SOUVENIRS.xml

[priller]

1. Oh no, they might have to move to Pisa

and sell those little leaning towers.

[ClintonTyree]

2. So the plastic Pope business has fallen off a little, so what?

they might have to sell a few of those nazi treasure artifacts to make up for it. It's just damn hard for the Vatican to keep up lately what with all of those lawsuits that keep popping up. :eyes:

This is STILL the richest church in the world. Selling Pope crap in the souvenir shop isn't their main source of income. I'm sure.

Why does a church need all of that wealth anyway? Wouldn't it be more Christ-like to sell all of that stuff and help more people around the world that are starving, don't have decent clothes and no place to live? I guess god WANTS the Vatican to have golden thrones and such, it PLEASES him. :eyes:

This is one thing that I cannot understand about the Catholic church. Can anyone explain it to me? :shrug:

[emad]

3. Vatican mortgaged off most of its assets prior to 1980 and lost them

all when Banco Ambrosiano collapsed in '82 and its CEO, Roberto "God's Banker" Calvi was murdered under London's Blackfriar's Bridge.

Subsequent portfolio of assets was believed to have been invested in some very dodgy enterprises.

A BBC world service programme in January 2002 claimed that 35% of the Vatican's equities portfolio was tied up in Enron investments.

And that a further 8% in WorldCom shares.
QED...

[bleedingheart]

4. I agree that the money would be better spent on the poor and needy

but to be honest the Catholic Church has actually saved items for posterity by hoarding stuff over the centuries. Granted the initial reasons for taking stuff may have been sickening but the end result is that some items that may have been lost to history are still around.

Also remember that the Vatican was run like a small country many centuries ago and they did keep on retainer some of the greatest artists in history...kind of like a high end public works program.

A Church with an almost two thousand year old history has a lot more historical baggage than a church founded a hundred years ago....

On the bright side, Catholic Charities worldwide do provide relief, aid and education. They have an extensive network and my own family has benefitted from their aid...my mom's hospital bills in the 50's were paid for by the church...

...note..I am a Roman Catholic (US Cafeteria Style)