McDonald's Branch Opens Right Next To the Vatican In Rome

A new restaurant has begun serving the public in Vatican City. A McDonald's was opened in the capital of Catholicism.

It opened outside the walls of the Vatican in Rome. The branch of the fast-food chain is located around the corner from St. Peter's Square. But some people and Vatican city cardinals are not happy about it.

The magazine Travel and Leisure reported that the fast-food branch is now open for business underneath an apartment complex owned by the Vatican itself. This transpired despite protests from residents and pleas from locals and religious leaders. The eatery was first reported last year.

It was announced in October that McDonald's was proposing to put up a branch underneath a building where several Vatican City cardinals were staying. The fast-food restaurant was revealed to be within view of St. Peter's Square. The outcry was immediate. Italians said then that it was an insult to their local culture.

Cardinal Elio Sgreccia criticized McDonald's when the proposal was initially reported. He said that a fast-food franchise near the Holy See was not respectful at all of the architectural and urban traditions of one of the most characteristic squares which look onto the colonnade of Saint Peter's.

He summed up his criticism by saying that selling mega-sandwiches in Borgo Pio is a disgrace. Pope Francis was urged to intervene in the matter through a personal letter written by another cardinal.

Several months have since passed and what was planned then is now a reality. McDonald's finally opened its doors only about a hundred yards from the Vatican.

According to People Magazine, the "McVatican" as it has already been called, was reported to have a surprisingly tasteful facade. The opening was not revealed by either the official Vatican newspaper nor McDonald's.

Two other McDonald's operate in the area without drawing too much attention. One is at Viale Giulio Cesare and the other is a few hundred yards from the Vatican Museum. A Burger King can also be found in between the two branches.

The difference is that these franchises are not located on any property owned by the Holy See. In addition, none of them are paying any rent to the Vatican. McDonald's is paying a Vatican agency 30,00 euros a month or over $31,000 for the space.