Rome hopes pope draws tourist cash

ROME - The election of Pope Francis could well be a blessing for recession-hit Rome as pilgrims and curious visitors flock to the eternal city to pray and catch a glimpse of the new pontiff.

Since the surprise announcement of Benedict XVI’s resignation, visitors to the Italian capital have provided an unanticipated boost in the low season for tourists, and more may arrive for the new pope’s inauguration Mass next week and for Easter celebrations. More than 1 million people are expected to attend the inauguration, Giuseppe Pecoraro, prefect of Rome, said Friday, according to news agency Ansa.

“We expect a 10 percent additional presence this month,” said Giuseppe Roscioli, head of the Rome division of the hoteliers association Federalberghi.

The pope’s election and installment could bring as much as $71 million in additional revenue to the capital’s economy in March, Roscioli said. The amount includes revenue for hotels, restaurants and museums and may prompt an increase of about 10 percent in temporary hotel hirings at a time when the country’s unemployment rate is at its highest in more than 20 years, he said.

Pope Francis, formerly Argentina’s Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, is the first South American to lead the Catholic Church and the first non-European pontiff in more than 1,200 years. His selection has raised hope in the tourist trade that he will attract foreign tourists and reverse a decline in visitors during the reign of his predecessor, whose final year as pontiff coincided with Italy’s fourth recession since 2001.

The pontiff, a Jesuit who has dedicated himself to issues of poverty, isn’t exactly helping the tourism cause. Heurged the clergy and faithful in Argentina not to travel to Rome for the inauguration and instead donate funds to charities to help the poor, according to a letter by the apostolic nuncio in Argentina published on Affari Italiani’s website and sent to the country’s dioceses on the Holy See’s behalf.

“Instead of coming to Rome for the beginning of his pontificate on [Tuesday], he would like them to continue with their much appreciated spiritual closeness, accompanying it with a gesture of charity to the neediest,” the letter said citing the pope’s request.

While religious tourism is important for Rome, it may not change much because pilgrims’ inclination to spend is limited.

“They tend to stay in religious accommodations, do picnic lunches and may buy the souvenir and the image of the new pope,” said Antonio Gazzellone, who manages tourism for the Rome Municipality. “They certainly don’t go to Louis Vuitton for shopping.”

Italy’s economy contracted 2.4 percent last year as Prime Minister Mario Monti’s austerity drive to contain the public deficit pushed the country deeper into recession. Gross domestic product could shrink 1.8 percent this year according to Fitch Ratings, which downgraded the nation last week.

A pope coming from “the ends of the earth,” as Francis described himself when he first addressed St. Peter’s crowd after his election, may give a boost to tourism and “have a positive impact on the rest of the economy at a time this is really needed,” hotel lobby head Roscioli said. “Despite being a world-famous tourist spot by definition, Rome still needs that and the current media coverage is as effective as an expensive 24 hour advertising campaign on all the world media.” Giovanni Salzano in Rome contributed to this report.

Religion, Pages 15 on 03/16/2013

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