Key Takeaways
- Pope Francis loved classic Argentinian foods, like empanadas.
- He also was a fan of Italian staples, like pizza and bagna càuda.
- For dessert, the pope enjoyed a subtly sweet taste, opting for alfajores or chocolate cake.
Today, it was announced that Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88. As the world mourns his passing, his 12 years of service as the first Argentinian pope is a legacy to be remembered.
But you might not know about Pope Francis’ love for food. Before and during his service as pope, his favorite foods and cuisines were recognized in various cookbooks, including The Vatican Cookbook and Roberto Alborghetti’s Eating with Pope Francis.
In his memory, we’re highlighting Pope Francis’ favorite foods from Argentina and Italy, plus similar recipes we think you will enjoy. Take a look at just a glimpse of the pope’s love for food below.
Pope Francis’ Childhood Favorites
Born in Flores, a neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis was naturally a fan of Argentinian cuisine. Most notably, empanadas were a favorite of the pope’s. In Eating with Pope Francis, it’s noted that “like any good Argentinian, he never failed to buy empanadas, characteristic parcels with meat, or with cheese, ham and other fillings.”
In The Vatican Cookbook, Argentine empanadas are shown to be made with flour-based dough, like puff pastry, instead of maize or corn dough. The meat filling can vary, but Argentina is known for their sirloin—like colita de cuadril (beef tri-tip) also featured in The Vatican Cookbook—so ground sirloin in the empanadas is common. Our Empanadas with Chorizo & Potato use a different filling but refrigerated pie crusts for the same texture.
As for dessert, Alborghetti says that Pope Francis was a fan of subtle sweets, “the ones that reminded him of the delicious sweets of [his] grandmother Rosa and mother Regina María, like chocolate cakes, a true triumph of delight.” Alongside cake, the pope was also a fan of alfajores, a type of Argentinian cookie sandwich typically filled with dulce de leche, per The Vatican Cookbook.
“Pope Francis smiled, stepped back into his home and re-emerged with a little pastry,” Swiss chef David Geisser shared in the cookbook, referring to an alfajor. “He smiled as he handed me the sweet gift and said he hoped it would ‘make the day a little better.’”
Pope Francis’ Favorite Italian Foods
While he grew up in Argentina, Pope Francis’ parents were from Italy, so he was quite fond of Italian cuisine even before he relocated to Vatican City. In his book, Alborghetti references bagna càuda, an Italian hot dip traditionally made with olive oil, butter, garlic, anchovies and herbs.
“Jorge Mario Bergoglio loves bagna càuda,” Alborghetti wrote. “It can be said that bagna càuda is a symbol of convivial ritual: conversation moves around a container placed in the center of the table, the stories and gestures of the diners come to life.”
Another shareable Italian dish that Pope Francis loved was, of course, pizza. According to The Vatican Cookbook, the pope once said, “If I had only one wish, what would it be? The only thing I would like is to go out one day, without being recognized, and go to a pizzeria for a pizza.” While takeout pizza is comforting, with recipes like our Whole-Wheat Pizza Dough, Homemade Pizza Sauce and your favorite toppings, it’s easy to transform your kitchen into an Italian pizzeria for an interactive dinner the whole family will love.
Whether embracing his Argentinian or Italian roots, try one of the pope’s favorite dishes this week in remembrance.
