Processed fries with the Gospel? McDonald’s now stationed in the Vatican

In what some are already calling an unholy alliance, McDonald’s has just opened a new restaurant located – of all places – in the Vatican.

Yes, the golden arches have popped up next to St. Peter’s Basilica, and many people are unhappy about the fact, arguing that the fast food giant has no place in such a spiritually significant and historic setting.

Critics of the Vatican’s agreement to lease the property – located about 100 yards from the Vatican State – include high-ranking members of the clergy.

From Vice:

“When plans for the McDonald’s, known as the McVatican, were announced in October, Cardinal Elio Sgreccia told La Repubblica that the restaurant was a ‘disgrace’ that served ‘food that I would never eat.’ He added that the money spent on renting the real estate, for which McDonald’s is shelling out roughly $31,000 per month, should be used to help the poor instead.”

‘McVatican’ offends cultural, culinary purists

Placing a McDonald’s in such a location seems incongruous on so many levels. It does reek of blasphemy to open such a modernist monstrosity next to some of the world’s most revered architectural marvels, and to even consider serving Big Macs and McNuggets in the culinary paradise that is Rome should be classified as a punishable offense.

“It’s a business decision that ignores the culinary tradition of Roman cuisine,” said the cardinal.

Others echoed Cardinal Sgreccia’s sentiments, including a citizens group which is protesting the McDonald’s opening over its potentially negative impact on the cultural ambiance of the area.

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From The Guardian:

“The Committee for the Protection of Borgo was the first group to raise the alarm over the proposed restaurant. It said the fast food chain would distort the area and inflict a ‘decisive blow on an already wounded animal’ given the abundance of mini-markets and stands selling religious trinkets in the area.”

In fact, the area around the Vatican is already home to several fast food outlets. There’s a McDonald’s near the Vatican Library and another one 200 yards away from that one (with a Burger King located in-between).

What makes this McDonald’s unique is that it is located on Vatican-owned property – which, incidentally, formerly housed a religious bookstore. Critics say the property should be leased to an entity more in line with the Catholic Church’s mission, or at least one that reflects the neighborhood’s cultural heritage.

Co-branding scheme in the works?

But in many ways, it’s a perfect marriage; McDonald’s and the Catholic Church have a lot in common. Both are found in every corner of the globe, and both generate staggering amounts of money – mostly collected from poor people.

It’s not hard to imagine a co-branding scheme – perhaps priests could begin offering a supersized option for the wafers and wine distributed during communion? Maybe the Mickey D sign could list how many souls are being saved along with the number of hamburgers being served?

And maybe a little product placement in the Bible wouldn’t hurt, either – how about a miracle of the loaves and McFishes?

Seriously, it shouldn’t be such a surprise that the two entities are now connected – they both operate at a global level and their goals truly aren’t so disparate. Both make it their mission to reach as many people as possible, and both depend on income primarily gleaned from the lower economic strata of the population.

It may not be long before one can obtain physical and spiritual sustenance under one roof – or arch, as the case may be – in every major city in the world. This may mark the beginning of a long and prosperous partnership between two financial powerhouses.

Imagine how many billions could be served and saved at the same time …

Sources:

Munchies.Vice.com

TheGuardian.com

Fox5NY.com

NBCNews.com