Two months have passed since their choice, but there are no traces of the image Leo XIV In stores Souvenirs It surrounds VaticanAccording to merchants, an “unpublished” case compared to their successors, expecting to get permission to make them August as soon as possible.
The direct surroundings of the city Vatican They are full of these types of stores in which a tourist and a pilgrim are usually lost in search of memory of his father -peasant or saint.
The menu contains a relaxed assortment of products with alternating quality: rosaria, stamps, key chains, a bottle of holy water, calendars, fridge magnets, bracelets, figurines or T -ties (dubious taste for any fashion lover).
The shelves are still accumulating articles with the scarecrow of Pope Francis, who died out in April, but also from other pontiffs of the past, such as Benedict XVI or St. John Pavel II.
Nevertheless, the search for the new pope, Leo XIV, is currently an impossible mission, although two months have passed since the White Fumata, which announced its choice on May 8.
In anticipation of permission
The merchants explain that this is due to the fact that the Holy throne has not yet allowed permission to disseminate the official image of a new pontiff for manufacturers of this type of type, and, without this “blessing”, its distribution is strictly prohibited.
To make sure that this is respected, in 2017 the Vatican State Secretariat warned that he controlled the use of the image of the pope, and then Francisco to “interrupt possible illegality.”
This is the first time I spend so much time. Before the resolution came much faster, ”he explains to Epheas Rita, the manager of Turulla, a well -known two -stage religious store in Plaza -San -Pedro, opened by his father in the remote 1950.
There is nothing clear, but, in his opinion, this “delay” may be due to the fact that the Vatican is in full organization of the anniversary, which the week after a week attracts thousands of pilgrims around the world, because, in addition, he had to organize a funeral and conclave.
Louis, on the other hand, is responsible for another new Vatican Emporium store, but also regrets the absence of permits and explanations, because, according to him, there is great demand.
“Every day we accept people who ask for rosaria, medals, posters or something else from the pope, but we must tell them that it is impossible to sell them,” he complains, putting the boxes in a hurry, because Rome, these dates and the sacred year, is overflowing.
Unusual delay
Traders of a direct Vatican, areas such as El -Burg or a route of freezing, naturally look forward to these products, but guarantee that so far they do not know when they can be done.
Before the permit arrived a week later, everything went much faster, ”recalls Mariangella, for 24 years after the Burgo Clerro store rack. This is the riddle of the Vatican ” – repeatedly another seller in the store next door.
Meanwhile, they are formed with the sale of products of other potatoes of the past: “We all have them, but we hope that we will have Leon as soon as possible,” he wants a seller.
This is despite the fact that the official portrait of the new pontiff was published by Holy Surief on May 16, eight days after his choice: in it he appears with the habit of White Talar, his relics cross on his chest and his signature in Latin.
The first official sales
The Vatican has already entered the sale of some images of Leo XIV, which can be purchased on the official portal of his media group. The price of the image of photographic paper ranges from 2.5 euros in its smallest format, 10 × 15 centimeters, up to 64 euros, if a whole metro poster (2.9-75 dollars) is preferable.
And if the table on the fabric is directly, the premium portrait can reach 120 euros (about $ 141), as well as delivery costs.
In addition, the apostolic alms that are responsible for the charity organization of the pontiffs also began to sell scrolls with the image and blessing of Leo XIV to give at weddings, baptisms, communions and any possible celebration.
In addition to the domains of the Vatican, one of the few times when the American pontiff was noticed in the subject for sale, was in the book about the anniversary in the store of Castel Gandolfo, a village near Rome, in which he will pass his summer rest.
With information EFE
