On August 21, 2024, Joseph and Makayla Chevarie of St. Dunstan’s Basilica Parish received the “Sposi Novelli” (Newlywed) blessing from Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. “It was very meaningful to meet the head of our Church and to witness his holiness in person. We feel very thankful to have his blessing on our new marriage,” Joseph recently shared upon returning from Rome. Joseph and Makayla were married August 19, 2023, and planned their one-year anniversary / honeymoon in Rome and Assisi, Italy. Joseph and Makayla are sharing their experience in hopes that it will encourage other couples with their wedding planning.
Newlywed couples married in the Catholic Church can travel to Rome to receive this special blessing. To be part of this, couples should be married within 2 months of the Papal Audience they wish to attend (although some flexibility up to one year may be possible) and carry with them a copy of their Sacramental Marriage Certificate. Tickets for the Papal Audiences can be requested through the Prefecture of the Papal Household.
“It was the moment of a lifetime! We held the Pope’s hand and gave him a prayer card from our wedding, and he gave us his blessing,”
To be permitted to sit in the sposi novelli section, the couple must wear their wedding attire. The Holy Father imparts his blessing at the conclusion of the Papal Audience. Occasionally some couples have the opportunity to greet the Holy Father personally after the audience, which was the case with Joseph and Makayla.
“It was the moment of a lifetime! We held the Pope’s hand and gave him a prayer card from our wedding, and he gave us his blessing,” shares Makayla of the experience.