Pope Francis Breaks Protocol for a Coffee Break in Luxembourg at Café Gruppeto
September 28 - 2024
Coffee Geography Magazine
The barista behind the counter stunned when he saw the Pope Francis in a wheelchair enter at Café Gruppeto accompanied by three bodyguards. The pope asked just like any other customer, “Could I please have a coffee?”
The barista, in a dread, shocked and shared his experience to the media later saying, “It was the most stressful coffee I have ever prepared.”
Pope Francis once again broke protocol during his visit to Luxembourg, after lunch at the house of his friend Cardinal Archbishop Jean Claude Hollerich, he wanted a good coffee in the nearby street. He was directed to a place right next to the archbishop's palace. He was led directly to the counter where the young barista was not expecting such unprecedented working experience.
Customers in the cafe were surprised to see the Pope enter and speak to them. Such unscheduled visits are common by Pope who wishes to be closer to the people. It is known that he loves the best coffee from Colombia and Ethiopia which makes him strong during the exhausting trips around the world.
The pope arrived in Luxembourg on September 26, 2024, to call for an end to the tragedy of war, condemning the “irresponsible return to the same mistakes of the past.”
On the first day of his journey, which will also take him to Belgium, the Pope devoted his morning to the leaders of the Grand Duchy.
He first met Grand Duke Henri, who introduced him to his family, including many children, and then had a brief private meeting with him. The Grand Duke then showed the Pontiff the golden rose given in 1956 by Pope Pius XII to his grandmother, Grand Duchess Charlotte, and presented him with a painted engraving of the Virgin and Child from the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg dating from the 18th century.