Even the most sacred gathering comes with culinary compromises.
**Food Fit for a Cardinal: The Humble Dining Experience of Vatican's Conclave**
**Food Fit for a Cardinal: The Humble Dining Experience of Vatican's Conclave**
Cardinals gather to select a new pope amid mediocrity in their dining options.
In an unexpected twist, the cardinals convening to select the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church are facing a dining experience that can only be described as uninspiring. The Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican's guesthouse where they will reside during the conclave, has drawn comparisons to “food you could eat at a train station,” as summed up by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza from Genoa. He described the fare as consisting of unexciting pastas drenched in “watery sauce,” along with basic cutlets and salads.
Designed primarily for utility, the cafeteria at Santa Marta features simple furnishings and even quirky artwork, such as fan art portraying Pope Francis as a Jedi knight. Despite its humble cuisine, the guesthouse has been a popular choice for priests, primarily due to its association with the pope who, until recently, shared meals there with guests.
Pope Francis’ focus on simplicity and humility appears to have influenced the quality of food significantly. Many cardinals, regardless of their stance on the pope, share a common sentiment regarding the food served at the conclave. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi expressed disappointment about the meals, saying, “You don’t eat very well,” and Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s not so good.”
Ultimately, the conclave’s culinary offerings are not meant to impress, setting the stage for the cardinals to prioritize their sacred duties over personal enjoyment in the dining hall. While they gather to deliberate on the future of the Church, the emphasis remains on prayer and unity rather than on what they may find on their plates.
Designed primarily for utility, the cafeteria at Santa Marta features simple furnishings and even quirky artwork, such as fan art portraying Pope Francis as a Jedi knight. Despite its humble cuisine, the guesthouse has been a popular choice for priests, primarily due to its association with the pope who, until recently, shared meals there with guests.
Pope Francis’ focus on simplicity and humility appears to have influenced the quality of food significantly. Many cardinals, regardless of their stance on the pope, share a common sentiment regarding the food served at the conclave. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi expressed disappointment about the meals, saying, “You don’t eat very well,” and Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s not so good.”
Ultimately, the conclave’s culinary offerings are not meant to impress, setting the stage for the cardinals to prioritize their sacred duties over personal enjoyment in the dining hall. While they gather to deliberate on the future of the Church, the emphasis remains on prayer and unity rather than on what they may find on their plates.
