
The cardinals aren't McLovin' it - McDonald's to open in Vatican City
FREE Catholic Classes
McDonald's is coming to Vatican City, like it or not. The fast food chain is opening a location next to St. Peter's Basilica, and right underneath the apartments where several cardinals live. The decision to install the eatery is controversial.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
10/18/2016 (8 years ago)
Published in Living Faith
Keywords: McDonalds, Vatican, St. Peter's Basiica
LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Several cardinals have protested against the Vatican's plan to open a McDonald's in Vatican City, right next to St. Peter's square.
The chain will pay the Church about $33,000 dollars (30k euros) in monthly rent.
Half-a-dozen cardinals live in apartments over the proposed restaurant site and they have sent a letter protesting the installation of the fast food establishment. The restaurant will also compete with family-owned restaurants in the area.
Cardinal Elio Sgreccia wrote a letter to Pope Francis in protest and told the paper, La Repubblica that the decision is "perverse." He added, it is "not at all respectful of the architectural and urban traditions of one of the most characteristic squares overlooking the colonnade of St. Peter visited every day by thousands of pilgrims and tourists."
He argued that the site should be converted to serve the needy, not feed the throngs of tourists visiting the Vatican. )6838 *1 50*59?)
The Cardinal also criticized the traditions of the restaurant chain and the health of its food, accusing the "mega sandwiches" of being damaging to customer's health.
However, the Vatican considers the deal to be legally valid and is so far refusing to break the deal.
It is apparent that unless Pope Francis intervenes, the golden arches will soon grace St. Peter's square, like it or not.
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

New $23 Million AI Academy Aims to Put Teachers in Control of Tech in the Classroom

California Rejects Federal Order on Transgender Athletes, Keeps Males in Girls’ Sports

Catholic Online AI Open Letter
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Thursday, July 10, 2025
Bl. Emmanuel Ruiz: Saint of the Day for Thursday, July 10, 2025
Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, July 10, 2025
Daily Readings for Wednesday, July 09, 2025
St. Veronica Giuliani: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, July 09, 2025
- Prayer for a Happy Death: Prayer of the Day for Wednesday, July 09, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.