Plans to open a McDonald’s next to the Vatican has caused outrage among cardinals.
The fast-food chain wants to open a restaurant in a piazza to the right of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
One angry cardinal has reportedly written a letter to Pope Francis urging him to intervene.
Cardinal Elio Sgreccia told La Repubblica: ‘It’s a controversial, perverse decision to say the least’.
He said that opening a McDonald’s at the proposed site is ‘by no means respectful of the architectural traditions of one of the most characteristic squares which look onto the colonnade of St. Peter’s.’
Moreno Prosperi, head of the Committee for the Protection of Borgo, the historic district around the Vatican where many cardinals live, said the planned McDonald’s would be a further blow to the area which draws huge throngs of tourists.
He said that over the last few years ‘the identity of this area has been lost’ due to an increase in illegal souvenir stands and mini markets.
Cardinal Sgreccia said the site should be used to be used to help the needy.
However, Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, who is the head of ASPA, said he was ‘not going to back down’ because the deal is legally valid and he didn’t see ‘anything negative’ about the proposals.
source: Daily Mail