If it’s a Wednesday in Rome, recently married couples — husbands in suits, wives in white dresses — gather at the Vatican for a special papal blessing called the Sposi Novelli (“newlyweds”).
Couples who have been married in the Church for three months or less, as verified by a valid Catholic sacramental marriage certificate (or a digital copy), are eligible to receive tickets to sit in a special section designated for the new married couples during the weekly general audience. The bride and groom are asked to wear their wedding attire for the occasion, during which they will have the chance to greet the Pope.
What’s the special day like?
Carmen and Conley Stumpfl from Seattle had the opportunity to meet Pope Leo XIV during the Wednesday general audience on Dec. 17, 2025, and receive the Sposi Novelli blessing.
“I was really excited about this Pope in particular because he’s from Chicago and I was born in Chicago,” Carmen told the Register, adding that Conley was on board with the idea. “He was immediately like, ‘Oh, we have to do that,’” she recalled.
“This really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to also meet Pope Leo and just another day to celebrate our
