ROME — Many Catholics around the globe rejoiced with a resounding “Hallelujah!” as Pope Francis was discharged from the hospital on Sunday after a prolonged battle with pneumonia. Coincidentally, “Hallelujah” is also the name of a new gelato flavor that delighted many in the Eternal City.
The Hallelujah gelato made its much-anticipated debut in Rome at open-air kiosks in Piazza Risorgimento, located just a stone’s throw away from the Vatican. This event served as a preview to the upcoming International Handmade Gelato Day. The novel flavor attracted a large crowd, including pilgrims, tourists, and gelato enthusiasts eager to taste the new concoction. The flavor, a blend of gianduia—a mix of roasted hazelnuts and sumptuous pure chocolate—will be available across Europe starting Monday.
This heavenly treat became a symbol of celebration for Pope Francis’ release from Rome’s Gemelli hospital, a moment awaited with bated breath by Catholics worldwide. Known for his affection for gelato, it’s a delightful coincidence that marked a happy day for both the pope and his followers.
“It’s such a beautiful coincidence that Pope Francis went back home today,” commented Ludovico Santasilia, one of the promoters of this initiative. “Francis has been following this project, and I’m certain he would adore the new flavor, considering his known love for gelato.”
The new flavor is the brainchild of master gelato creator Vincenzo Squatrito, who won a European gelato competition with this creation. The name “Hallelujah” was inspired by the Catholic Church’s Holy Jubilee Year, a grand event inaugurated by Pope Francis in December, expected to bring around 32 million pilgrims to the holy city of Rome.
The Argentine pontiff, aged 88, has always been open about his fondness for gelato. His preference for dulce de leche, an Argentinian caramel dessert, was revealed by his favorite gelato maker from Buenos Aires a few years back. Over the years, Pope Francis also formed a warm friendship with Sebastian Padrón, an Argentine who owns a nearby artisanal gelato shop. Padrón frequently delivers servings of the pope’s beloved gelato to the papal residence at Casa Santa Marta.
Santasilia added, “I’m sure the Pope also loves the idea that the funds raised through this tasting event will support a global project targeting homelessness.”