Castel Gandolfo: A groundbreaking culinary collaboration has been unveiled at the Vatican’s historic summer retreat. Pope Leo XIV announced a partnership with renowned Chicago chefs Art Smith and Phil Stefani to open an eco-friendly restaurant within Borgo Laudato Si’, a 135-acre ecological complex in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. The restaurant is expected to debut in spring 2026 and will serve as the estate’s exclusive dining and catering venue.
The announcement was made during a livestreamed inauguration ceremony of Borgo Laudato Si’ on September 5, where Pope Leo XIV emphasized that the new initiative reflects the Church’s mission to protect creation. “This is one of the Church’s initiatives aimed at realizing the vocation to be custodians of God’s handiwork,” he said. The livestream was celebrated in Chicago with a watch party attended by Chef Stefani, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and local leaders, highlighting the strong connection between the Vatican and the city’s culinary scene.
The project represents a continuation of Pope Francis’ vision, as the late pontiff had earlier established a committee that selected Smith and Stefani for the pioneering role. Their appointment marks the first time international chefs will manage a restaurant on Vatican property.
The new restaurant will stand at the heart of Borgo Laudato Si’, a modern complex built within the Papal Villas once the 17th-century summer residence of the popes. The eco-village is designed as a living demonstration of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, which calls for environmental stewardship and ecological responsibility.
The site includes organic gardens, vineyards, olive groves, and training programs in pesticide-free agriculture, winemaking, and sustainable farming. Business leaders and pilgrims will also be able to participate in retreats and education programs focused on environmental ethics. The infrastructure incorporates photovoltaic energy, advanced insulation, and circular water management systems, making it a model of green innovation.
Smith and Stefani’s restaurant will serve Italian cuisine prepared with locally sourced ingredients, enhanced by international influences. A solar-powered greenhouse modeled after St. Peter’s Square’s colonnade will provide seasonal produce for the menu, ensuring both sustainability and freshness.
To honor Pope Leo XIV’s Peruvian heritage and Chicago roots, the menu will blend flavors from both cultures. The restaurant will serve breakfast and lunch daily and will also feature a small on-site market for visitors to purchase fresh goods.
Chef Art Smith, a James Beard Award winner, is best known as Oprah Winfrey’s former personal chef and for his work with Common Threads, a nonprofit organization promoting nutrition education. He currently runs Reunion and Blue Door Kitchen & Garden in Chicago.
Chef Phil Stefani, a leading figure in Chicago’s dining industry since 1980, heads the Stefani Restaurant Group, which operates popular establishments such as Stefani Prime, Tuscany, Tavern on Rush, Castaways Beach Club, and Broken English Taco Pub.
For Stefani, this venture is deeply personal. “As a Catholic and Italian, this project is a dream for my family and me,” he said. “To be part of a culinary experience on Vatican property is profoundly meaningful. We also share this honor with Chicago. It’s an opportunity to bring a taste of home and the spirit of our city to the world.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson praised the chefs as “true Chicago legends,” calling the collaboration “a striking and serendipitous win” for the city. Chicago’s link to the Vatican initiative is further strengthened by Father Manuel Dorantes, a Chicago priest who was appointed administrative-management director of the Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education in October. Dorantes stood beside Pope Leo XIV at the Castel Gandolfo ceremony, underscoring the shared commitment to faith, education, and sustainability.
When it opens in 2026, the restaurant will not only provide visitors with a unique dining experience but will also serve as a symbol of how faith, culture, and ecology can come together in harmony. By merging Chicago’s culinary excellence with Vatican tradition, the initiative promises to make Borgo Laudato Si’ both a spiritual and gastronomic destination for the global community.