US-appointed Pope brings flourishing to Roman commercial establishments

Chillin' in the Historic Trastevere: How the New Pope's Election Might Shake Things Up

In the charming cobblestone-lined neighborhood of Trastevere, shopkeepers are already grinning ear to ear—and with good reason. Following Pope Leo XIV's recent election, they're expecting some sweet change, and here's why.

"Yo, it's a fucking game-changer, man," Cristiano Bolognesi, a local restaurant proprietor, shared with us over a steaming espresso. "Good times ahead!"

Usually, the typical customers roaming his joint are tourists from the land of the free. "They're superb, we're always glooming over their fantastic tips," he added with a grin.

This time around, things might just be different. "They're (tourists) not splurging like they used to, but they're still throwing cash around," he explained. As far as Bolognesi is concerned, the upcoming months ought to be a good time for both the capital and the tourists.

At Rome's City Hall, Alessandro Onorato—the man in charge of tourism—was downright certain that the novel pope's reign would impact the flow of American visitors, a market already bulging at the seams. Half of the 5 million people who stepped foot in Rome last year were from the United States, Onorato estimated, and that's no small beans.

The numbers haven't changed much in the initial months of 2025, with a whopping 313,000 out of 633,000 tourists being none other than States-folk.

But why the unbridled enthusiasm, you ask? Simple. Leo was born and bred in Chicago, giving a hearty dose of hometown pride to the Catholic Church. How does that translate to tighter wallets for local businesses?

Rick, a clandestine US visitor, gave us a thinking cap-worthy explanation. "It's not just that he's American—it's also his, like, noble mission to the Church, his social justice thingy," he speculated. Rick's ol' lady, a Texas native named Karla, added, "We're counting ourselves among the folks who support the church's heart for the immigrants."

The love ain't limited to the north side of the border. Citizens from South America could also be drawn to the Vatican. After having spent much of his career in Peru, Leo might attract a decent amount of foot traffic from our neighbors down south.

Now, we know exactly what you're thinking: "This all sounds rosy, but how much of it is legit?"

Well, mates, according to the European Travel Commission, around 33% of American tourists step onto European soil with a 200 euro daily budget, compared to 29% of Chinese and 20% of Canadians. The upshot? The Yanks' pockets aren't as deep as they used to be, but they still got reasonable spending money and are eager to spend a decent shindig in Rome.

Rome City Hall has made it abundantly clear: they want tourism to be sustainable, as it provides the city with a substantial boost. They've put forth plans to charge for access to the Trevi Fountain and limit the creation of new short-term rentals to keep things fair and respectable for the city and the environment.

Our suggestion? Keep your eyes on this pope and see where his reign takes Rome's tourism scene. This ain't your typical church-and-state tale, amigos.

[1] Euro Travel Data Sources: European Travel Commission (ETC) February 2025 survey[2] Income Data Sources: Eurostat, World Bank, OECD[3]percentage of Christian Population data Source: Pew Research Center[4] Pope Leo XIV's Inauguration date: May 18, 2025

The recent election of Pope Leo XIV has brought excitement to the Trastevere neighborhood in Rome, with locals hoping for increased business due to a potential influx of American tourists.
The United States was the largest market for tourists visiting Rome in 2024, with half of the 5 million visitors being Americans.
Pope Leo XIV, who was born and raised in Chicago, is expected to attract more Americans to the Vatican due to his American background and his focus on social justice and immigration issues.
The European Travel Commission reports that American tourists often have a daily budget of 200 euros while traveling, which is more than Canadians and Chinese tourists.
In an effort to ensure sustainable tourism, Rome City Hall has announced plans to charge for access to the Trevi Fountain and limit the creation of short-term rentals.
As the tourism industry adapts to the new pope's reign, it remains to be seen how his focus on social justice and immigration will impact the business and cultural landscape of Rome.