Pope Francis revered these foods
Pope Francis did not visit Argentina during his 12 years as Pope. Despite this established distance from his native country, there was something that always inspired a kind of devotion in him: Argentine cuisine. A sentiment that would be immortalized in cookbooks like 'The Vatican Cookbook'.
As a fan of Argentinian food, empanadas were a must on his menu. In 'Eating with Pope Francis', it is noted that "like any good Argentinian, he never failed to buy empanadas, those characteristic packages filled with meat, or with cheese, ham, and other fillings."
In 'The Vatican Cookbook', it is shown that Argentinian empanadas are made with a flour-based dough, similar to puff pastry, and are typically filled with sirloin steak. Regarding dessert, author Alborghetti reveals that Pope Francis was a fan of the "delicious sweets of [his] grandmother Rosa and his mother Regina Maria, such as chocolate cakes, a true triumph of delight." Along with cake, the Pope was also a fan of alfajores, according to the cookbook.
Italian dishes
Despite growing up in Argentina, Pope Francis's parents were Italian, so he also shared their love for Italian cuisine. In this regard, in his culinary work, the author refers to the 'bagna cauda' sauce, traditionally made with olive oil, butter, garlic, anchovies, and herbs.
Another Italian dish Pope Francis loved to share was, of course, pizza. According to The Vatican Cookbook, the Pope once said, “If I had just one wish, what would it be? The only thing I would like is to go out one day, unrecognized, and go to a pizzeria and eat pizza.” Amen.
