The drink is a “source of joy,” the Pope tells business executives at the Vatican, but he also advocates for healthy lifestyles.
Italian wine makers have jumped at the chance to counter European health warnings, citing Pope Francis’ remarks that wine “is a gift from God” and “a true source of joy” for its users. During a private session at the Vatican with Italian winemakers, Francis delivered the remarks.
Greeting the crowd, he made a joke, “This seems like a drunken pope,” before addressing the topic at hand: “God has given us wine, land, agricultural skills, and entrepreneurialism because, when combined with our sensitivity and honesty, they truly bring us joy.”
But the pope also urged the wine producers to consider the “moral and ethical responsibilities” that come with their jobs, such respecting their employees and the environment and promoting moderation in alcohol consumption.
Organized by Veronese bishop Domenico Pompili, the event took place ahead of the annual Vinitaly wine trade expo in April. Pompili reiterated Saint Paul’s advice to drink in moderation, stressing that while a glass is invigorating, it should be savored in moderation.
Reacting to Ireland’s European Commission approval, Italy has rejected mandatory health warnings on alcoholic beverages throughout the EU. By 2026, wine, beer, and spirits will have health warnings under the contentious law.
Even while Italy used to drink more wine every day, there has been a shift towards a more moderate intake, with Italian wine groups claiming a healthier connection with wine than their counterparts in northern Europe.
The president of Veronafiere, the organization that puts up Vinitaly, Federico Bricolo, stated that the pope’s homage to wine serves as a reminder that it is a “symbol of tradition and of a socially and environmentally sustainable economic system.”
He went on, “And all in the name of a conviviality that unites.”
Francis has already expressed support for wine consumption. He emphasized the importance of wine in wedding celebrations when he made this claim in 2016 at a papal audience. Imagine the end of a tea-time wedding reception, where the consumption of wine does not cause the newlyweds to feel guilty.
Another important component of the Catholic mass is wine. 2014 research showed that Vatican City consumed the most wine per person of any country, highlighting the importance of wine in this religious atmosphere.
