The Catholic Cardinal Conference, gathered for the Conclave, finds itself isolated in the stunning Sistine Chapel. Yet, the culinary experience isn’t quite what one might expect.
The menu at the Santa Marta cafeteria consists of rather unremarkable fare like simple spaghetti, boiled vegetables, minestrone soup, and lamb skewers during this secret gathering, as noted by various reports.
“You could find this food at train stations,” remarked Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, hailing from a region in Italy historically affected by the plague, according to sources.
Others have described the cafeteria offerings as featuring “watery sauce” and bland pasta.
“You don’t eat very well,” Cardinal Gianfranco Lavasi, another Italian, candidly shared.
But there’s more to this secrecy than mere locked doors and signal jammers for mobile devices; food is also strictly regulated to prevent any external communication. This level of scrutiny impacts which foods can be served. In fact, certain items like roasted chicken, ravioli, pies, and even rigatoni are closely monitored or outright banned, as they could potentially serve as means for secret messages.
All meals are prepared by the nuns of Domus Sancte Maltae, the residence where Cardinals stay outside of the discussions. Earlier in the week, they joined the Vatican staff in taking a similar vow of secrecy.
This tradition of cautious dining dates back to a time when the Pope’s influence was deeply intertwined with political maneuverings, with the risk of what maintaining contact with the outside world could mean during such sensitive gatherings.
Way back in 1274, details were first established for the Cardinals’ diet during the conclave, with Pope Gregory X creating these guidelines amid rising political tensions to alleviate concerns about cardinals’ potential addictions.
Food has also historically been used to underscore the importance of the conclave process, especially during those drawn-out sessions of the 12th and 13th centuries.
Everything undergoes rigorous checks, starting with the Vatican guards, followed by further inspections, before finally being transported into the Conclave chamber through a rotating mechanism in the wall.
The upcoming conclave is set to kick off on Wednesday and is expected to span several days. Typically, recent conclaves have averaged three days, and not much has extended beyond five. For context, the conclave that elected the late Pope Francis wrapped up in just two days.
