Conclave Cuisine: Cardinal's Apathy Towards Vatican Fare Highlights Simplicity

Amidst the anticipation of selecting a new leader, cardinals at the Vatican are facing culinary disappointment, with descriptions of the food as comparable to train station fare.

As cardinals convene for the pivotal conclave, the focus on selecting a new spiritual leader sits uncomfortably alongside their gastronomic grievances. Their meals at the Casa Santa Marta—which once housed Pope Francis—are critiqued for their lackluster quality. Cardinal Mauro Piacenza characterized the dining experience as akin to “food you could eat at a train station,” pointing to uninspired pastas, bland salads, and simple cutlets.

The surroundings aren’t much more inviting; the cafeteria features drab decor and peculiar art, including fan depictions of the pope as a Jedi knight. While Santa Marta became the temporary home for cardinals, it lacks the culinary creativity that some might assume accompanies a conclave. There are echoes of nostalgia for richer pastas and vibrant vegetables, with some attributing the meals' dullness to Francis’ emphasis on humility and simplicity.

Bishops spanning different perspectives agree on one thing: "You don’t eat very well," remarked Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, a proponent of Pope Francis. Another, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, a vocal critic, shared a similar sentiment, saying, "It’s not so good." Although they embark on a sacred mission, the food challenges the mystical aura of their purpose, rendering it clear that divine inspiration may not extend to the kitchen.