Posted on 10/19/2016 11:18:40 AM PDT by Ebenezer
McDonalds plan to open its first restaurant in Vatican City has prompted criticism from cardinals living above the proposed site.
The fast food giant is reportedly willing to pay a few tens of thousands of euros per month to rent a property within sight of St Peters Square, according to the Guardian.
Cardinals claim that they were not consulted by APSA, the Vatican agency that owns the property, about the plans. Instead, residents were only informed after APSA had agreed to rent the ground floor of the property to McDonalds.
Cardinal Elio Sgreccia told LaRepubblica: Its a controversial, perverse decision to say the least. It is by no means respectful of the architectural traditions of one of the most characteristic squares which look onto the colonnade of St Peters.
Speaking on behalf of the seven cardinals who live in the property, Cardinal Sgreccia added: The space should be used instead to house entities which help the needy, in line with the Popes call for a poor church for the poor.
Pope Francis is among one of the former residents of the apartments above the site; he lived there before he began his papacy.
Went to McD’s only once when I was stationed in Germany.
“Since I’m in Germany, I should enjoy German food”, I thought.
When I went to one (Salzburg, actually,) the Coke I ordered was handed to me in a lukewarm can. Euro’s still disdain ice in soft drinks. But they DID hand me a cup of ice & water!
I've only been in St. Peter's square once, and that briefly. (You have to cut corners when you're doing Rome in a day. I could've used another half day at least....). I don't recall food vendors but I was power-touristing and wasn't looking for any. What are the current dining options?
McDonald's is the closest thing we have to a true, universal, restaurant rooted on all continents and serving people of all races, colors, and creeds. If this Pope had his hat on straight, he would embrace it as a truly ecumenical partner in building global harmony.
Mount a campaign to put a Chick-fil-A in there, and watch the fireworks.
Probably too Christian for the current pope.
I see both sides:
1) Yes, McDonald’s is a long stone’s throw away already. I can only assume the objection is procedural or legalistic in origin. When I spent time in Rome alone on a budget, I found McDonald’s a welcome and reliable gustatory resource when I was without great funds and on foot.
2) As a lifestyle nutritionist, I do not make a habit of consuming such nutritionally deficient, and artificially augmented, fare. It is a last rather than a first resort for me, and I limit myself usually to a filet-o-fish without cheese.
Casting the Papal eye on a McDonald’s apple pie?
Odd if they are more upset by this than by Bergoglio importing Mohammadans into the Vatican.
McDonald's is "perverse" but queers & Muzzies are fine?
Sound like a bunch of Methodists.
More serious for others, such as Church historian and Roman citizen Professor Roberto de Mattei, is that the cardinals would choose this issue to be most vociferous about. Roman prelates will roar when they see their own residences threatened, he told the Register, but lose their voices when faced with events that shake the faith and Catholic morals, such as the exhortation Amoris Laetitia and the embrace of Luther on October 31 in Lund.
And all of the ones I've been to in Europe serve beer.
The French ones serve wine.
Catholic ping!
This could be a good thing.
Do they have other eateries there?
Its a controversial, perverse decision to say the least. It is by no means respectful of the architectural traditions of one of the most characteristic squares which look onto the colonnade of St Peters.
Are you fricking kidding me???:
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