Sweet and simple: That's the menu
plan for Pope Francis when he stays at a church-run residence during
his visit to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day.
However, Good Counsel Sister Terezinha Fernandes, who is in charge of
the kitchen at the Sumare Residence, said that when she was dreaming up
the dishes, "I had to hold myself back" to not let the table fare get
too fancy.
Meals will consist of rice and beans, and some Brazilian specialties
like cheese bread and "doce de leite" -- a dessert made from carmelized
sweetened milk, she told the Italian Catholic newspaper, Avvenire, July
16.
About 30 visiting cardinals will be staying at the same residence and
eating from the same menu in the common dining room, she said.
Sister Terezinha said they will be welcoming the pope "as he requested
us to: with simplicity," but also with plenty of "boundless joy."
While the nun has vowed to keep things plain, another chef said she
can't help herself and will probably make the pope splurge a little.
Monique Benoliel told Avvenire that when asked what he would like after
celebrating the closing Mass July 28, the pope apparently requested just
water.
"Well, this time, however, I am going to have to disobey him," she told
the newspaper. She said it would be inconceivable to "not let the pope
even try one of our tropical fruit juices."
At Sumare, Pope Francis will stay in the same room -- number five --
that Blessed Pope John Paul II stayed in when he visited Brazil in 1980
and in 1997.
The pope's room will be on the first floor of the two-story residence.
The freshly renovated room with cream-colored walls, has a single bed, a
mini-fridge, a desk and chair, coat rack, rocking chair, night stand
and telephone.
"We hope Francis likes it," Sister Terezinha told the paper.