Tourism bosses in Rome were celebrating last night after a Latin American Pope was chosen for the first time.
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, from Argentina, was appointed yesterday.
With the continent making up 40% of the world’s 483 million Catholics, the move will be seen as a welcome boost to the city’s tourism.
Of the 10 countries in the world with the largest Catholic population, four are in Latin America.
A spokeswoman from the Italian Tourist Office said Rome was already a major tourist destination but the new Pope was expected to bring many more tourists, particularly from Latin America.
"Of course we are expecting an increase, absolutely. A wonderful man has been elected and every Sunday at midday there is a blessing from his window and many people from Latin America and all over the world will come to see him," she said.
Hotel bookings in the city rose more than 10% when Benedict XVI first announced he was stepping down, and one travel site reported a 60% increase in inquiries from Germany, the International Herald Tribune reported.
