They're showing no mercy!
In criticizing
unfettered capitalism, Pope Francis has said that greed “condemns and enslaves
men and women.”
That denunciation
certainly hasn’t resonated with some people in Philadelphia, who are trying to
make a quick buck by renting out apartments, rooms, and even cars to the masses
of people who will flock to the city later this month for the Pope’s visit.
Bloomberg reports
that there are hundreds of rental listings on Craigslist that cite the Pope’s
visit, including one intrepid “landlord” who’s hoping to rent out his 1993
Honda Civic for $30 a night.
The most decorated
battleship in U.S. history is also looking for tenants. The U.S.S. New Jersey
docked on the Camden waterfront has bunks for rent for $75 per night—a price
that includes dinner and breakfast.
Vacation rental
site HomeAway pegs the average nightly rate at $1,690 for the week of the
Pope’s visit, which is eight times as much as the average stay in Philly the
rest of the year. That markup is bigger than what visitors paid in New Orleans
for the 2013 Super Bowl, Bloomberg said.
There are some
affordable options in the city. HomeAway lists hundreds of rentals that are
priced at less than $100 per night. Perhaps those landlords heeded Archbishop
Charles Chaput’s plea that Catholics in Philly show generosity toward the
city’s visitors.
Landlords are far
from the only ones looking to cash in on the Pope’s visit. Local breweries are
also capitalizing on the arrival of His Holiness by selling Pope-themed beers. Specialty brews named “Jesus Wept,” “Holy Wooder,” “Nope,” “Pap Ale,” and “You
Only Pope Once” will be available for a limited time only.
The Pope’s visit,
along with the World Meeting of Families (an event held every three years), is
expected to boost the city’s economy by $417.8 million, according to the
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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