Pope: weddings without wine are “an embarrassment”

Pope Francis has publically endorsed the idea of an abundance of wine at weddings, declaring that those where the wine runs out are “an embarrassment”.

Pope Francis, photo credit: Natacha Pisarenko

As reported by Wine Spectator, the Argentine-born Pope made the comments on 8 June during his weekly public address in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

“Wine expresses the abundance of the banquet and the joy of the feast. Imagine finishing the wedding feast drinking tea, it would be an embarrassment,” he said.

Speaking to a crowd of thousands, he went on to talk about the Marriage at Cana, during which Jesus turns water into wine after the regular wine runs out.

He connected the Bible passage with the idea that milestone moments like weddings demand copious amounts of wine.

“How is it possible to celebrate the wedding and have a party if you lack what the prophets indicated was a typical element of the messianic banquet? “Wine is necessary for the feast,” he insisted.

The Vatican City consumes more wine per-capita than any other country in the world.

In 2014 is was revealed that the Pope would use Argentine wine during Mass from grapes grown in Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca, Salta, Neuquén and Río Negro for use in the sacrificial wine.