In brief
The food served at the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta during the ongoing conclave has been described by cardinals as unimpressive, with low expectations set for their meals. Cardinal Mauro Piacenza compared the fare to “train station food,” highlighting bland offerings and tracing its decline back to Pope Francis’s emphasis on simplicity.
The cardinals gathered to elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church are focused more on their important task than on the meals served. The culinary experience at Casa Santa Marta, the guesthouse where they are staying, leaves much to be desired. Veteran Cardinal Mauro Piacenza didn’t hold back, declaring the food to be akin to “what you’d find at a train station.” This means they can expect simple pastas with "watery sauce," basic cutlets, and lackluster salads—"Not exciting,” he added. The dining ambiance isn’t appealing either; with its bland décor like pale green columns and utilitarian furniture, the cafeteria seems more functional than inviting. The guesthouse, often associated with Pope Francis, who advocated for humility and simplicity, seems to have borne the brunt of his straightforward lifestyle. With many residents recalling less-than-satisfactory meals—“It’s not so good,” lamented Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller—the overall sentiment among cardinals appears to resonate across the board. Even amid the importance of the conclave, the recurring mention of uninspiring food highlights just how far the Vatican's culinary standard has evolved—and not for the better!
