The conclave diet was not made with gourmands in mind.
During the process of electing Pope Francis’s successor, the 135 Catholic cardinals gathered within the Vatican walls are far from enjoying banquets fit for the Heavenly King, or even earthly kings, as such.
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi of Italy expressed to the New York Times on May 7 that one’s diet isn’t particularly tasty, and Cardinal Ludwig Miller further commented that the food is far from exceptional.
It’s worth noting that since Francis passed away in April at the age of 88, it could be his influence behind the modest meals the prospective new pope is currently enjoying. This is because for the past 12 years, he was responsible for shaping the Vatican’s menu, as described by cardinals to the New York Times as unpretentious pastas, vegetables, and leftovers—even including dates from the Middle East that were given to him.
Meanwhile, there have been items that are completely forbidden from the menus.
Food items like ravioli and whole chickens, which can hide messages, have historically not been approved for consumption during conclaves due to the risk of concealed notes. In fact, food inspection began around the 16th century at conclaves to detect secret messages—with heightened security measures in the kitchens where meals were prepared.
During a similar period in history, there were suspicions that cardinals who passed away during conclaves had been poisoned through their food. In response to this, cardinals started taking turns sampling food as a means of testing for poison. If one cardinal consumed the food without falling ill, others would follow suit. The renowned Vatican chef, Bartolomeo Scappi, documented this practice in his writings from that era.
Ah, let me share a fascinating tale from the past, dear friend! In the 1200s, we had Pope Gregory X gracing our world, whose election process stretched over an astonishing three years, still a record to this day. You see, during these drawn-out conclaves, Gregory X implemented a rule to ensure the cardinals didn’t dine like kings. If they couldn’t agree on a decision within three days, their meals would be cut back drastically. They could only indulge in one meal per day! After eight days of debate, their meals were limited to just bread and water. Fortunately, these strict rules were loosened in the 1300s. Isn’t it fascinating how history can surprise us?
Even though the cardinals participating in the ongoing conclave understand that they will not receive any extraordinary benefits during their meeting.
As Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo told the New York Times, “We will eat whatever they give us.”
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2025-05-08 19:20