We make mea culpa, but only partially. Having completely missed the unreleased Thanksgiving papale it is also partly due to the ghosting of Leone XIVso far the most elusive pontiff of recent years. Has anyone heard from him lately? We ask for a friend. On the other hand, his collaborators and fellow Americans took part in a very special Thanksgiving last week. The first in history organized in Castel Gandolfoon the initiative of the pontiff himself.
We give thanks
The Christian formula par excellence in this case is not pronounced at mass, nor is it administered by any priestly figure. The occasion here is purely related to one semi-historical tradition which, purified of its problems linked to the invasion and extermination of indigenous peoples by European settlers, takes on almost legendary features. And in the context of American holiday par excellence inevitably intertwined with unbridled consumerism in every sense (even edible obviously), they become ironically pagan traits.
Here: this is also the context of origin and growth of first American popewho like all global popes of the last fifty years brings with him a certain amount of cultural baggage and related peculiarities. There is nothing to do, if you were born in the USA There’s no escaping Thanksgiving. Indeed, it is researched, replicated with different formulas and above all people are invited to celebrate it. Family, friends, neighbors, and for the extra guest add a place at the table, as a very Christian musical sang.
The pontiff also said this when interviewed by NBC last week. “I encourage everyone to give thanks, especially with this beautiful banquet that we have in the United States that unites different faiths and even those who have no faith, and to recognize that we have received many gifts, of which the most precious is life.” And for once instead of giving thanks to God, we look each other in the eyes around the table and declare ourselves grateful for much more prosaic things. Like turkey.
The initiative therefore, as we have said, starts right from our Leo. Right before leaving on a mission to Lebanon and Türkiye he made sure to organize a pranzo farm-to-table Thanksgiving style for the team Borgo Laudato Si’. The project deals with the maintenance of the gardens in Castel Gandolfo, 54 hectares around the papal residence complete with greenhouses, vineyards, olive trees and agricultural land. In short, everything is homemade, with a menu that ties together the culinary traditions of departure and arrival.
Chef in the kitchen (and Oprah Winfrey‘s private chef for a long time, it comes in handy later) Art Smithseven restaurants in the portfolio spread throughout the States including Chicago, which was the birthplace of the new pope. On the menu a slew of classics that don’t disfigure even the Castelli Romani. Protagonists the turkey (local) with truffle butter and roast beef with porcini mushrooms. But also porchetta from Ariccia (filled with a mix of bread and giardiniera made in Chicago), timbale with cheese and pepper, ciabatta with bacon.
And we can’t forget it stuffing or stuffing served separately based on corn bread, apple and sausage, Oprah’s favorite according to Art. A banquet that lacks nothing, in fact this time there was something more. In addition to the usual side dishes, sauces and desserts to share, the Castelli wine and the final (espresso) coffee also appeared on the table. Sorry if we didn’t realize it: like the Pope (hopefully) we are all caught up in events in which there is little to give thanks and much to ask for a please. Even better, a prayer.
