Are you ready for the upcoming Jubilee? Well, the shelves are already filled with a wave of gadgets featuring the logo of the Holy Year dedicated to hope. From water bottles to plush toys, keychains to the ever-present rosaries, there is a bit of everything. The logo can even be found on coffee makers and bottles of oil or wine, just to name a few examples.
The mascot Luce doesn’t seem to be taking off just yet. Perhaps not due to the controversies surrounding it, but more likely because of the price tag: it is being sold for 44.90 euros on the official merchandise website.
The first official sales points are located on Via della Conciliazione, at the Infopoint, and currently at the exhibition of the Hundred Nativity Scenes in the Vatican colonnade designed by Bernini. Alongside the wooden nativity scenes, you can spot the mascot resembling a Japanese cartoon character.
At the information point, you will find the classic mugs, backpacks, t-shirts, and sweatshirts.
Around the Vatican, and on the tables set up by the souvenir street vendors, you will still find the traditional devotional items, from sacred images to plastic rosaries. “These are always the best sellers because with just a few euros, you can take home some mementos,” says Antonio, one of the vendors near the square. Here, you can even haggle, just like at a market, and the more items you buy, the bigger the discount you receive.
Angela, an 82-year-old Sicilian, browses the shops in search of souvenirs for her grandchildren: “We’ve ruled out the mascot, we have five grandchildren, how can we choose? We’ll pick something more budget-friendly.” Even the dioceses are making thoughtful choices for their pilgrims, as a backpack full of gadgets can significantly increase the cost of a pilgrimage in Rome, where accommodation prices have already skyrocketed. The classic baseball cap with the logo costs almost 17 euros, so the focus is more on the scarf, also branded, as a recognizable group accessory. And even for a single piece like a handkerchief, it costs almost 10 euros.
The merchandise seems to appeal to a more spendthrift audience, from Asians to Americans, looking to take home a memento of Pope Francis’ Jubilee. Among candles and stoles for priests, you can also find kitchen pot holders or bibs.
Online, you can even find Jubilee coffee makers: advertised by a company that also creates its moka pots with pride symbols or zodiac signs, catering to all tastes. Again, the price is not exactly budget-friendly like that of a ‘Franciscan’ pilgrim like the Pope: the basic model costs 64 euros, but if you want the luxurious version (a moka pot with a gold coating and two cups with premium finishes), you’ll have to shell out 486 euros. The item is limited edition, and the company thanks the Dicastery for Evangelization on its website for “the opportunity to create this special collection, celebrating such a significant and spiritually valuable event.”
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