
Italy: The first Pope-abilia hits the shops
Italy: The first Pope-abilia hits the shops
The first souvenirs depicting Pope Francis I appeared Friday in gift shops around the Vatican. Posters, key chains, rosaries and pendants with the image of the Holy Father are already for sale in Rome and merchandise with the image of former Pope Benedict XVI is still on sale at regular prices.
So far, only a few stores are in possession of the prized memorabilia, as other gift shop owners complain they must wait until next week to display the full range of items representing the new Pope. In the meantime, many boutiques around St. Peter's Square are hanging Argentinean flags on their facades.
The Conclave of Cardinals elected Wednesday Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new head and spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. At 76, the Argentinean Jesuit is the first Pope from the Americas and the first non-European in 1,282 years. He was sworn in after German priest Joseph Ratzinger, elected in 2005 to become Pope Benedict XVI, resigned on February 28.

Italy: The first Pope-abilia hits the shops
The first souvenirs depicting Pope Francis I appeared Friday in gift shops around the Vatican. Posters, key chains, rosaries and pendants with the image of the Holy Father are already for sale in Rome and merchandise with the image of former Pope Benedict XVI is still on sale at regular prices.
So far, only a few stores are in possession of the prized memorabilia, as other gift shop owners complain they must wait until next week to display the full range of items representing the new Pope. In the meantime, many boutiques around St. Peter's Square are hanging Argentinean flags on their facades.
The Conclave of Cardinals elected Wednesday Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new head and spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. At 76, the Argentinean Jesuit is the first Pope from the Americas and the first non-European in 1,282 years. He was sworn in after German priest Joseph Ratzinger, elected in 2005 to become Pope Benedict XVI, resigned on February 28.