The beer is cheap, the waiters are talkative and the music is 1960s
Motown -- but the new pub that opened its doors this week in a historic
crypt in central Rome is not really like any other.
Start with the
landlord being a Catholic priest, the religious sayings on the walls
and the large crucifix hanging in one of its vaulted rooms.
Then there's the name of the new drinking establishment: "Giovanni Paolo II", or "John Paul II".
"Vodka
is not allowed here," said barman Marco Mincaglia, as he served out
beers and snacks to a visiting group of young German pilgrims.
Massimo
Camussi, the doorman, dressed in a black T-shirt reading "JP2," said:
"It's about drinking to meet people and talk about the Catholic Church
and listen to Catholic music. We love John Paul II."
The "John
Paul II" is not just a novelty drinking venue -- it's part of a Catholic
initiative called "Jesus in the Centre" aimed to reach out to the
clusters of kids who flock to central Rome at night.
"The idea is
to offer the young people of Rome... an opportunity to express
themselves, to listen, to be listened to, to drink something but in a
healthy way, in a nice way," said Maurizio Mirilli, a priest and the
landlord.
"The important thing is that anyone who comes here
should know they can't get drunk. There are rules. Because you can have
fun, you can drink in a healthy way. There's no need to go crazy to have
fun," he said.
The sign on the bar behind him reads: "Give me a
drink" -- a quote from Jesus Christ in the Bible -- another from pope
John Paul II reads "Be not afraid" and from Saint Therese of the Child
Jesus: "Everything is grace."
The bar is located down some steps
in the vaulted crypt of the San Carlo al Corso basilica on one of Rome's
most popular streets, surrounded by high-end clothes shops and chic
drinking venues.
In fact if it is to have any hope of competing
with its neighbouring establishments, the "John Paul II" might do better
than talk up its low prices.
A Corona costs three euros (four
dollars), a Heineken 2.50 euros and a Moretti 2.50 euros -- far less
than the prices charged in most places in central Rome.
There were
only a handful of visitors on the opening night, however, and Pascal
Mengede, 27, a local government official from Cologne in northwest
Germany, had a few complaints about the new establishment.
"It was
very difficult to find because there were no signs," said Mengede,
adding that he had heard about the pub on Vatican radio.
"It's okay but I think an Irish pub is nicer than this."
SIC: AFP/INT'L