Vatican Media / EPA
Papa Francisco addressing the faithful in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican (2018)
In Rome, prayers for the Pope do not convince tourists. Who works at the Vatican confesses disillusioned; And it points out that when John II was to be sick, the spirit of tourists was different.
O Papa Francisco88, was hospitalized on February 14, following pneumonia in both lungs. Last Friday, the health state of the Supreme Pontiff aggravated after one.
This Monday, the Vatican reported that Francisco spent the night well and is resting, despite staying in Critical status.
In the streets adjacent to St. Peter’s Square and Gemelli Hospital in Rome are dozens of journalists and image reporters, making television straight and talking to those who pass, always with the vault of the basilica in screen.
In an interview with Lusa, in São Pedro Square, Alfredo, a “great friend” of Portuguese cardinal José Saraiva Martins, It is disappointed with the tourists.
Alfredo owns one of the stalls for selling religious articles in the Vatican.
Complains about low sales of the thirds with the image of Francisco – What, for the Vatican entrepreneur, Indicates that tourists “are not worried” with the state of health of the Pope.
With John Paul II was different
On a Monday where the rain bothers but does not rule out the lines of tourists who visit the Vatican, Alfredo has dozens of thirds with the image of Pope Francis, but The business is no longer what it was.
“In the time of John Paul II was that it was sold a lot. Now not, ”he said, recalling the weeks of terminal disease of the Polaco Pontiff, in 2005.
“It’s just a euro but few buy. This is also because the news is better. He is in a limbo and people believe he will improve, ”he said.
Tourism detached from religion
A few meters, near the bridge of Santo Ângelo, a mother and a Portuguese son came to Rome for the first time… but not by the Pope.
“We are making a cruise that included Rome,” says the woman, who admitted to knowing the clinical situation of the Catholic Church leader.
“He’s bad. Hopefully it recovers, because it has been a great man, ”he says.
Already Michaa 38 -year -old Japanese who is taking a wide trip through Europe, I didn’t even know that the Pope was sick.
“I don’t read the news very much. It’s a shame, I would like to have seen him, ”says Tokyo’s computer teacher, who included Rome on a trip to five European capitals. “But not Lisbon,” he says, smiling.
