How the 2025 Papal Conclave Turned Vatican City into a Tourism Supernova
When Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, the world held its breath—and then booked flights. And hotels. And taxis. And probably a few last-minute Vatican travel guides.
The days that followed weren’t just about black smoke, white smoke, and ancient rituals in the Sistine Chapel. They also ignited a tourism boom that left Rome’s economy—and espresso machines—buzzing like never before. Let’s take a fun look at the holy numbers behind the holy transition.
When in Rome… Join 250,000 Other Mourners
On April 26, a quarter of a million people packed into Rome to bid farewell to Pope Francis. That’s right—250,000 souls, many of whom had just one goal: attend the most reverent gathering in the world… and find a decent espresso that wasn’t €9.
Then came May 8, when the Vatican crowned a new papal star: Pope Leo XIV. As the Habemus Papam echoed across the square, 150,000 faithful, curious, and just-plain-touristy people jammed St. Peter’s Square. Let’s just say shoulder room was more of a suggestion.
Hotels: 100% Full, 0% Chill
During this sacred shuffle of papal power, Rome’s hotel industry saw occupancy rates spike to near-100%. If you were thinking of a spontaneous Roman holiday, you were either (a) hilariously optimistic or (b) sleeping in a Fiat.
Not only that, hotel bookings soared by 25%, injecting a lovely €50 million into the city’s economy—just from domestic tourists. International travelers brought the rest, likely fueled by divine inspiration and budget airlines.
Fly Me to the Papal Moon
Airlines weren’t about to miss this sky-high pilgrimage. Iberia, among others, beefed up its Rome-bound flights, sending in the big planes and extra seats like it was Easter, Christmas, and Taylor Swift in concert—all rolled into one.
Big Hats, Bigger Budgets
World leaders and VIPs descended on the Eternal City faster than you can say Cardinal Elector. These high-profile visitors weren’t exactly pinching pennies. We’re talking $4,000-$10,000 per person, per day. That’s enough to buy a few bottles of Vatican-blessed holy water—or, you know, a new Vespa.
By the Numbers (a.k.a. The Holy Receipt)
| What Happened | How Many People / Euros |
|---|---|
| Funeral Attendance | 250,000 |
| Conclave Day Crowd | 150,000 |
| Hotel Occupancy | Near 100% |
| Booking Surge | +25% |
| Domestic Tourist Spend | €50 million |
| VIP/Diplomat Daily Spend | €3,000–€8,000 per person |
Holy Crowds, Batman!
Between solemn ceremonies, global news coverage, and a Vatican glow-up, the conclave transformed Rome into a spiritual festival-meets-historic blockbuster. It was reverence meets retail, incense meets influx, theology meets tourism.
If the 2025 conclave taught us anything, it’s this: never underestimate the drawing power of tradition, pageantry, and a guy in white waving from a balcony. Oh, and book your Rome hotel way in advance next time.