By: Toshita Sahni
Image: Instagram/franciscus
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday (April 21, 2025) at the age of 88. He was known to have a deep relationship with food.
Image: Instagram/franciscus
Several of his favourite treats reflected his Argentinian and Italian roots. For instance, he liked to drink yerba mate tea, a traditional drink from South America.
Image: Instagram/franciscus
He was also a fan of desserts, including cakes and pastries. Here's a look at some of the specific dishes Pope Francis was known to love:
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One of Pope Francis's all-time favourite foods was Argentinian empanadas - crisp crescent-shaped pastries which can have savoury or sweet fillings.
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Pope Francis famously adored pizza - he once spoke of his wish to go to a pizzeria without being recognised. He celebrated his 81st birthday with a pizza party.
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Another famous Italian delight the Pope liked to savour was gelato. His preferred flavours were reportedly dulce de leche, lemon and mango. He also liked ice cream.
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Another sweet treat Pope Francis enjoyed was Alfajores - a type of sandwich cookie popular in Argentina. They're filled with dulce de leche, a caramel-like sauce.
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Chipa, a traditional bread from Paraguay, is made with cassava flour and cheese. The Pope reportedly fell in love with it in his youth, when he worked in a laboratory.
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The Pope loved traditional delicacies and Bagna Cauda is one such speciality from Piedmont in Italy. It's a dip/sauce made using garlic, anchovies, and olive oil.
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To learn more about different types of Italian pizza
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