A McDonald's located on Vatican-owned property has partnered up with an organization to regularly offer free meals to the local homeless population.
Italy's The Local reports that this particular McDonald's, nicknamed "McVatican," has sparked outrage among Italy's population and people of the church for proceeding to build its restaurant on Vatican-owned property. However, those same cardinals who called the McDonald's' actions "controversial and perverse" might be singing a different tune in the near future. After all, the fast food giant is behaving quite charitably, and who can complain about that?
The McVatican (I guess that's going to stick) is collaborating with the Medicine Solidale (Solidarity Medicine) charity in order to carry out this new idea, and the director of the organization, Lucia Ercoli, seems to be thrilled. She said that the McDonald's responded "promptly" to her request for this service, and that she was "very satisfied with this agreement."
"It is truly a small drop in an ocean of things being done by so many other associations, by so many people who spend their time helping others," she told Vatican Radio.
The details of the charitable services involve handing out more than 1,000 meals at lunchtime, beginning on Jan. 16, 2017. Lunches will consist of a double cheeseburger, apple slices and a bottle of water.
According to Catholic News, this Monday lunch will be handed out for 10 Mondays in an effort to open dialog with the people of Italy about expanding more in the future. Ercoli's organization has long been in collaboration with the papal almoner in working to help the homeless in areas such as medical care and nutrition. Bringing McDonald's into this mix should surely help everyone involved. If this fast food chain wants to be welcomed into Italy so badly, I would imagine this is the best way to get the country to open its arms.
"With these meals, we'll make a significant leap in providing so many women and men who live on the street in this neighborhood the possibility of a meal that will guarantee a suitable intake of proteins and vitamins for them," Ercoli said. These efforts are truly admirable, and I'm rooting for the golden arches.