The thousands of tourists flocking to Rome for the late Pope John Paul IIs Beatification ceremony, due to take place on the 1st May 2011, are faced with a dazzling choice of souvenir items of the event. These range in price from modest finger rosary lapel pins for around 5 to gold medallions and coins costing over 100.
The shops around the Vatican and the main tourist sights of Rome are crammed with wall crosses, crucifixes, rosaries, pill boxes, key chains, bookmarks, bottle openers, cuff-links, earrings, spoons, belt buckles and T-shirts, all blazoned with the image of the popular Polish Pope. In addition, a whole range of commemorative gold, silver and bronze-plated medallions engraved with the Pope and the four Roman Basilicas are available, along with medals featuring a 2 zloty Polish coin in honour of the Popes Polish origins.
Police will be keeping a vigilant eye on the goods for sale. A few days ago, more than 5 million counterfeit souvenirs made in China were seized in a warehouse raid in the centre of Rome The goods were confiscated and will be destroyed as not passing European safety standards
