On Monday 28 September Pope Leo XIV was in Metz, the last stop of his journey through France, with Mass in the cathedral of Saint-Étienne. A few steps away, Giovanni, who runs the Italian deli Casa Giulia, prepared a gift box for the Holy Father. Inside: a letter, a small bottle of olive oil and our taralli with turnip tops.
Some gifts tell people where you come from. For the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Metz, Giovanni, owner of Casa Giulia, the Italian deli on rue En Fournirue, chose a small wooden chest. Inside, on a bed of straw: a rolled letter tied with a gold ribbon and a hand-drawn heart, a small bottle of olive oil and a bag of Apulian taralli, the crunchy ring-shaped crackers of southern Italy. Ours.
Metz, the last stop of the journey through France
Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to France began on 25 September in Paris, with a visit to UNESCO headquarters, and went on to Lourdes. Metz was the last stop, on Monday 28 September: a border city between France, Germany and Luxembourg, chosen as the place to speak about Europe and peace.
The day, as announced by the City of Metz and the diocese:
- around 10 am: the Pope’s arrival and an interreligious meeting at the Robert Schuman congress centre;
- at 11 am: the meeting “At the roots of Europe, for peace and unity”;
- from 2.30 pm: the popemobile through the streets of Metz, from avenue Foch to the cathedral;
- at 4 pm: Mass in the cathedral of Saint-Étienne, the most awaited moment of the day.
A corner of Puglia in front of the cathedral
Casa Giulia is at 12 En Fournirue, a few minutes’ walk from the cathedral of Saint-Étienne, in the very neighbourhood that was the heart of the day. Since 2025 it has been the place where people in Metz find our products, starting with taralli and tomato passata. That Giovanni thought of putting a piece of Puglia in his gift to the Pope makes us quietly proud: it means that Puglia is now a little bit of Metz too.
Taralli with turnip tops are Apulian taralli kneaded with cime di rapa, the slightly bitter leafy greens (also sold as broccoli rabe) that are the region’s best-loved vegetable, the same ones that go with orecchiette with turnip tops. To find out how taralli are made, read our page on Apulian taralli, or find the taralli with turnip tops in our shop.
Where to find Casa Giulia in Metz
Casa Giulia, Caseificio Salumeria Barbieri, 12 En Fournirue, Metz, a short walk from the cathedral of Saint-Étienne: cheeses, cured meats, olive oil and Apulian specialities, including our sweet and savoury taralli. Thank you, Giovanni, for the gesture and for the photo.
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