In one of the most unexpected partnerships in recent memory, two Chicago hospitality heavyweights are teaming up on a project with the Vatican. Celebrity chef Art Smith and restaurateur Phil Stefani have been selected to open a restaurant at Borgo Laudato Si’, a former papal estate outside of Rome.
The collaboration was announced Friday afternoon as part of a broader inauguration of the 135-acre property, with Pope Leo XIV presiding over a ceremony. Earlier this year, a committee led by the late Pope Francis tapped Stefani and Smith to oversee the unprecedented dining destination.
The unnamed restaurant, planned to debut in spring of 2026, will highlight farm-to-table Italian cooking with global touches, drawing influences from Chicago and Peruvian flavors in honor of Pope Leo XIV’s heritage. It will serve as the estate’s only restaurant and caterer, open for breakfast and lunch. A marketplace is in the works as well.
Borgo Laudato Si’ sits within the historic Papal Villas of Castel Gandolfo, which dates back to the 17th century and has been a summer residence and vacation retreat for popes. The site, steeped in nearly 2,000 years of history, encompasses gardens, agricultural and farming land, and a solar-powered greenhouse modeled after St. Peter’s Square’s iconic colonnade. The greenhouse will supply ingredients for the restaurant, while Borgo Laudato Si’ also offers training programs in organic farming, winemaking, olive harvesting, and more.
It’s been a landmark year for Chicago and the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, became the first American pope in May. Born in Bronzeville and raised in south suburban Dolton, he left for missionary service in Peru in the ‘80s before coming back to Chicago to serve as Provincial Prior, and later Prior General, of the Augustinians’ Chicago province. He eventually returned to Peru in 2014. Still, Leo XIV hasn’t forgotten his roots. In June, the White Sox hosted a Mass at Rate Field, where the pope delivered a special video message to the crowd. And just last month, he accepted an Aurelio’s pizza in St. Peter’s Square — a delivery arranged by a group of Midwest friends.
While the pope likely has little experience with running restaurants, the Vatican has enlisted a highly capable duo. Smith rose to prominence as Oprah Winfrey’s personal chef and has won multiple James Beard Awards, including Humanitarian of the Year for his work with his non-profit organization, Common Threads. In Chicago, he currently operates Reunion and Blue Door Kitchen & Garden.
“As a Catholic and Italian, this project is a dream for my family and me,” Stefani said in a statement. “To be part of a culinary experience on Vatican property is deeply meaningful to us. But we also share this honor with the city of Chicago. We have the unique opportunity to bring a taste of home, some of that unique Chicago spirit, to a global audience.”
Dining and Cooking