Pope Francis married flight attendants Paula Podest and Carlos Ciuffardi in an impromptu ceremony on his papal plane high over Chile.
A Chilean couple wed Thursday on a wing and a prayer — from the Pope.
Pope Francis married flight attendants Paula Podest and Carlos Ciuffardi in an impromptu ceremony on his papal plane high over Chile.
“We can’t believe the Pope married us,» the bride said afterward. “A Pope has never married anyone on a plane.”
The unexpected nuptials came about after the pair walked to the front of the aircraft for a photo with Francis.
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The pontiff soon learned that the couple’s planned wedding in 2010 was derailed when the Chilean earthquake demolished their church.
The pair — who met at work where Podest is Ciuffardi’s boss — went on to have a civil service but had never been formally married.
Without hesitating, Francis asked if they would like to tie the knot right then and there.
She said yes. So did he.
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The scene turned sublime when the Pope kissed their wedding rings and asked for a witness.
Ciuffardi turned to her boss, the CEO of the airline, and then Francis called on his cardinals to draft the paperwork.
A cardinal drafted the wedding certificate by hand on a plain sheet of paper provided by the airline.
After the Pope, the couple and their witness signed the document, Francis handed the bride a white rosary and the groom a black one.
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The pontiff drew laughs when he asked Ciuffardi if his wife was still the boss.
“This is what’s missing in the world, the sacrament of marriage,” the Pope told them. “I hope this motivates couples around the world to marry.”
The newlyweds, overcome by emotion, struggled to speak following their magical encounter with the Pope on the short flight from Santiago to the northern city of Iquique.
The pair live in the Chilean capital with their two children.
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“We hope it will promote marriage,” the groom added. “We have a Vatican document, it’s all valid.”
With News Wire Services
