The region of Madrid unveils 'Cor Unum', a new pastry creation conceived to celebrate the imminent visit of Pope Leo XIV. This culinary creation aims to unite Madrilenian identity with visual references to the Vatican and will be available to artisan bakeries in the area. The initiative is a collaboration between the Community of Madrid and the Association of Artisan Entrepreneurs of the Pastry Sector of Madrid (Asempas).
The name 'Cor Unum', a Latin expression meaning "one heart," pays homage to the spirituality of the Order of Saint Augustine, to which the Pontiff belongs. The dessert aims to symbolize values such as fraternity, unity, and encounter, conceived as a gastronomic product for a highly significant occasion.
The official presentation took place at the facilities of Pastelerías Mallorca, responsible for its creation. Attendees included the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sport, Mariano de Paco Serrano; the president of Asempas, Jonathan Yagüe; and various representatives from Madrid's pastry sector.
"Today we present a very Madrilenian way to celebrate the historic visit of Pope Leo XIV, a pastry created especially for this occasion," stated De Paco. The minister highlighted the capital's ability to blend tradition and celebration, describing Madrid as a city that combines "the solemn, the festive, the luminous, the affectionate, and the open".
De Paco Serrano defended the economic impact of major events, noting that "this example reflects what major cultural, sporting, and social events mean for the Community of Madrid: they generate a value chain that reaches many different sectors".
The recipe for 'Cor Unum' starts with a butter sablé dough, filled with lemon cream and artisanal jam made from Aranjuez strawberries. The pastry is coated in white chocolate with yellow details evoking the colors of the Vatican, and includes a chocolate wafer with the coat of arms of the Holy See.
The production director of Pastelerías Mallorca, Pablo Moreno, explained the challenge of representing both Madrid and the Vatican in a single creation. "We wanted something that truly had nods to Madrid, and there's the strawberry from Aranjuez, and that it would be representative of what it truly is, for the Pope, for the Vatican," he indicated.
Moreno described the dessert as fresh and balanced, combining the acidity of lemon, the fruity intensity of strawberry, and the crunchy texture of butter. He also mentioned that a gluten-free version for celiac individuals is in development.
The creation has also been designed with a practical and accessible format, "so it's neither excessively large nor excessively expensive, but rather a detail," summarized the pastry chef, highlighting its potential as a gastronomic souvenir for visitors.
The initiative, proposed by the Community of Madrid, originated from several initial ideas, with a combination of shortbread and a Vatican seal ultimately being selected, according to Jonathan Yagüe.
The president of Asempas championed the quality of raw materials, artisanal craftsmanship, and passion for the profession as distinguishing elements of Madrid's pastry-making, stating that "all these values are gathered in this new sweet that we present today".
As part of its promotion, the Community of Madrid will offer free tastings of 'Cor Unum' on June 6th and 7th at the Centro de Turismo de Sol, while supplies last.
Furthermore, Asempas will send a sample of the new sweet to the Spanish Episcopal Conference for delivery to Pope Leo XIV, thus completing a gastronomic tribute that unites pastry tradition, Madrilenian identity, and religious symbolism in a single piece.
