This was actually an idea from Pope Francis before he passed away, hoping to bring the Stefani Restaurant Group there. And now, it is a reality as Chicago's own Pope Leo XIV will have a taste of home near the Vatican.
Phil Stefani and Chef Art Smith with Chicago's Stefani Restaurant Group will take over a 135-acre property in Castel Gandolfo and turn it into a restaurant and catering business, an announcement confirmed on Friday
"The important thing for us and Art is we're going to showcase Chicago, and we're going to showcase it to our audience, and our audience is the entire world," said Phil Stefani with the Stefani Restaurant Group.
Pope Leo XIV made the official announcement as well in Rome with a moment of prayer in front of a couple hundred people in attendance on Friday.
Stefani says fate brought them into this situation as they were in discussions to open this restaurant before Pope Francis passed away.
Stefani and Smith auditioned in front of Pope Francis and a group of people at the Vatican, where they served fried chicken and biscuits.
Pope Leo XIV was in attendance at that dinner, and now, he will see this vision become a reality with his favorite foods available to him and the visitors at a picturesque site not far from the Vatican.
"This was Pope Francis vision to build this place, and it's all about sustainability. Our food is going to come from the grounds. It's about helping migrants. We're going to teach them our business," Stefani said.
Mayor Brandon Johnson also attended Friday's announcement, sharing a few words about what this means to Chicago.
"I think about the soul of Chicago, and it's our restaurant industry and our families who really define who we are, and those of us who live and breathe Chicago know how amazing the food industry is," Johnson said.
The restaurant is set to open next April and they say that menu will offer some of Chicago's favorite traditions.
"Seventy percent will be Italian. Then, another 20% will be our Chicago program. We're going to do, obviously, the hot dog. We'll do items that we're known for," Stefani said.
Stefani says the other 10% of the menu will offer Peruvian meals in honor of where Pope Leo XIV spent several years.
He said deep dish pizza may be a little too much for that restaurant but has not officially decided yet.