In brief
Despite lofty responsibilities, the cardinals anticipate lackluster meals in the spirit of humility during their pivotal gathering.
As the cardinals converge at the Vatican to select the next pope, their focus on the spiritual tasks at hand often doesn't extend to their culinary expectations. Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, a seasoned participant in these conclaves, candidly critiqued the dining situation, comparing the meals served at Casa Santa Marta, the guesthouse for the cardinals, to “food you could eat at a train station.” He humorously lamented the unexciting choices available, which include pasta with “watery sauce,” simple cutlets, and bland salads.Santa Marta, known more for its utilitarian décor and low-key ambiance—featuring bland green pillars and furniture—has earned a lackluster reputation among priests. Though it once buzzed with a sense of community, its allure has faded, even as it remains the residence of Pope Francis, who favored dining there before his health issues led him to take meals in his room.The decline in quality is thought to stem from Pope Francis’s emphasis on simplicity and humility, with some cardinals expressing their discontent over the limited variety of offerings, suggesting leftovers from gifts to the pope, like Middle Eastern dates, have become part of the menu. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi of Italy remarked universally among the cardinals that “you don’t eat very well,” while Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller of Germany, once removed from service by the Pope, echoed similar sentiments. As they enter this significant phase of leadership selection, the cardinals show a clear consensus—not only will they grapple with selecting the next pontiff, but they will do so over meals that leave much to be desired.
