Anger over Big Macs at the Vatican

McDONALD’S is dishing up “hallowed” hamburgers after the Vatican backed it in a fight with cardinals over a new outlet at the foot of the tiny city-state in Rome.

Big Macs were being scoffed with glee yesterday at the US fast food giant’s outlet a stone’s throw from St Peter’s Square.

Cardinals had warned the Vatican against supping with that symbol of Western consumerism, including a group of the red-hatted princes of the church who live above the Vatican-owned site.

One even wrote to the pope slamming a commercial decision which is reportedly to bring ß30 000 (R431 000) a month into the Vatican’s coffers – residents fear it will ruin a historic area.

Their protests fell on deaf ears and the new McDonald’s branch opened on Friday after the 538m² site was let to the restaurant chain by Aspa, the Vatican’s real estate authority.

While it lies outside the Holy See’s walls, those popping in for a burger and chips have a good view of the papal windows.

Angelo Tosti used to show the panorama off to tourists at his restaurant, which has been in his family for three generations – and now sits directly across the street from the fast food behemoth.

“What amazes me most,” he said sadly, “is that the pope rises up against the multinationals, then they give a Vatican property for rent. It will ruin the whole area.” – AFP