During a secret meeting called a conclave at the Vatican, Catholic cardinals meet in the beautiful Sistine Chapel. Even though the place is fancy, the food they eat is very simple. This is part of ancient traditions that keep things secret and safe.
Simple Meals:
Cardinals eat in a cafeteria at Casa Santa Marta. Their meals include things like spaghetti, boiled vegetables, soup, and lamb skewers. Many say the food isn’t very good. Cardinal Mauro Piacenza joked that the food is like what you’d get at a train station. Others complained about tasteless pasta and thin sauce. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said the meals aren’t filling. Pope Francis likes to keep the food simple at the Vatican, and this continues during the conclave.
Food Rules:
The Vatican is very careful about the food the cardinals eat. They worry that meals might carry secret messages from outside. Because of this, some foods are not allowed or must be checked. In the past, items like whole chickens and stuffed ravioli were banned because they could hide messages.
Nuns Prepare Meals:
Nuns at Domus Sanctae Marthae, where the cardinals live, prepare the food. These nuns have promised to keep secrets just like the cardinals. Their job is to cook and deliver food while keeping everything private so there are no leaks during the election.
Food Restrictions History:
Food safety and secrecy have been important for a long time. In 1274, Pope Gregory X set rules for the food during conclaves. He made sure glasses, napkins, and even waste were checked. Cardinals were scared of poison, and the food rules helped speed up long meetings. If meetings took too long, the amount of food was reduced to encourage quicker choices. Meals were handed through special compartments in the wall after being checked by guards.
Conclave Duration and Process:
The current conclave started on Wednesday. Most recent conclaves last about three days. The one in 2013 that chose Pope Francis only lasted two days.
FAQs
– Why do the cardinals eat simple food during the conclave?
Simple food helps avoid secret communications or problems, and it follows Pope Francis’s tradition of humble meals.
– Who makes the food for the cardinals?
Nuns from the Vatican dormitory prepare all meals while keeping everything secret.
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