Junior Rasmussen
While it is rare, the Pope can perform wedding ceremonies. Pope Francis, for example, has performed several weddings, including one mid-flight in 2018. Couples can also get married in the Vatican, though it is not easy. Newlyweds can also meet the Pope and receive a blessing on their marriage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can the Pope perform a wedding ceremony? | Yes, the Pope can perform a wedding ceremony. |
| How common is it? | It is not particularly common these days, but it does happen. |
| Where can the Pope perform a wedding? | The Pope can perform a wedding in the Vatican City. |
| How much does it cost? | It costs around 1200 Euros to get married in the Vatican City. |
| How long in advance should the request be sent? | It is recommended to send the request at least a year in advance. |
| What is the dress code? | The dress code for brides is a wedding gown or wedding dress, and formal attire for the groom and guests. |
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What You'll Learn
Pope Francis has performed weddings
Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025, has performed weddings during his papacy. In 2014, he presided over the weddings of 20 couples in St. Peter's Basilica. The couples ranged from ages 25 to 56 and were from the Diocese of Rome. One bride was already a mother, some couples had been living together, and others had been married before. Popes presiding over public marriage ceremonies is a rare occurrence.
Pope Francis also performed a wedding for a steward and stewardess on a papal flight between two Chilean cities. The couple, Paula Podest Ruiz and Carlos Ciuffardi Elorriga, already had a civil union and two daughters. However, their parish church in Santiago was damaged in an earthquake in 2010, and they were unable to have their planned religious ceremony. When they asked Pope Francis for a blessing, he decided to marry them instead. The ceremony was witnessed by Ignacio Cueto, president of Latam Airlines, and an improvised marriage certificate was signed by the pope, the couple, Cueto, and a bishop who was on the plane.
Pope Francis's willingness to perform weddings for couples who do not fit the traditional mold, such as those who were previously married or cohabiting, suggests a new openness and flexibility within the Catholic Church. His actions indicate a potential shift towards prioritizing mercy and pastoral care in the Church's teachings on divorce, remarriage, and cohabitation. This is further supported by his decision to include divorced and remarried Catholics in communion, a groundbreaking move that challenges traditional Catholic doctrine.
While Pope Francis has performed weddings, it is important to note that he himself was celibate and did not have a wife or children. Celibacy is a requirement for popes, and it is believed that abstaining from marriage and sexual relations allows them to focus entirely on their beliefs and duties.
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Popes can be married
Popes can, in theory, be married. While the Pope is still restricted to celibacy, there is no explicit rule barring a married man from becoming Pope. The only requirements to become Pope are that one must be male and Catholic. Thus, any Catholic man can theoretically be elected Pope by the College of Cardinals.
Throughout history, there have been several married Popes. These include Peter, Felix III, Hormisdas, Adrian II, John XVII, Clement IV, and Honorius IV. However, these men were either married or widowed before their election.
In the early Church, it was common for clergy to be married, and even encouraged. The Bible does not explicitly mention celibacy, and members of the Church were thought to set a good example by marrying and having children. However, this changed in the first few centuries, and celibacy became a key part of being a Catholic priest.
In the New Testament, virginity and celibacy were seen as gifts from God. Jesus Christ was unmarried and devoted singularly to his beliefs and mission. Thus, the Catholic Church's Pope, as the purest and most moral member of the religion, was expected to remain celibate and focused entirely on his beliefs.
Despite the tradition of celibacy, some Popes throughout history have broken this rule. In addition to the aforementioned married Popes, there have been Popes with long-term partners, lovers, and even children.
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Getting married in the Vatican
Requirements
There are two church locations available to get married to within the Vatican City walls. Weddings in Saint Peter's Cathedral are celebrated Monday through Friday at 10:30 am, except on Wednesday, which is reserved for the official papal audience and the newlywed sposi novelli Vatican wedding blessing. Matrimony is performed in Cappella del Coro, also called the Chapel of the Choir. The chapel is quite large and can seat up to 100 people with much more standing room.
To get married in the Vatican, you will need to present detailed documentation, including:
- Passports for both spouses
- Baptismal and Confirmation Certificates
- Marriage Preparation Course Certificate (if required by your home Diocese)
- Pre-Nuptial Inquiry Forms (issued by your local parish and Bishop)
- Nihil Obstat (Nulla Osta) from Your Bishop – this document confirms that there are no impediments to your marriage outside your Diocese
- Bishop's Permission Letter – required if you are getting married outside your home parish
Costs
There are substantial administrative costs involved in getting married in the Vatican. You will be required to pay a 200 EUR deposit to secure your date and time, which is non-refundable. The remaining balance of approximately 1000 EUR will need to be paid three months before the wedding date and is also non-refundable.
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Catholic newlyweds can meet the Pope
Getting married in the Vatican is not easy, but it is possible. If you wish to have your wedding day celebrated in the Vatican City, you need to send in your request well in advance—at least a year if not more. You will be requested to present detailed documentation and face substantial administrative costs.
However, if you are a Catholic newlywed, you can meet the Pope without getting married in the Vatican. This custom is called Sposi Novelli, meaning "newlyweds" in Italian. The concept is that all Catholic couples are invited to have the Pope bless their marriage in person. The Sposi Novelli blessing takes place at the conclusion of Wednesday General Audiences at the Vatican in St. Peter's Square.
To receive the Sposi Novelli blessing, you must have been married within two months of the papal audience and show proof of your recent Catholic marriage at the entrance. While the Pope does not always greet each couple individually, he did in May 2013. There are also professional photographers at the event who will pass out their business cards so you can order photos from them.
If you are unable to secure a date for your wedding in the Vatican, a good alternative option is Church Santa Susanna, the American Catholic Church of Rome. Wedding mass can be celebrated in English, and the approximate cost is 1200 euros.
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Pope Francis performed a wedding mid-flight
While it is not common, Popes can and do perform weddings. Pope Francis, who was the head of the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025, performed a wedding mid-flight. This was the first time a pope had ever officiated a wedding while flying on a plane.
The couple, flight attendants Paula Podest Ruiz and Carlos Ciuffardi Elorriga, asked Pope Francis to bless their civil union, which had taken place eight years prior. They explained that a religious ceremony that was to follow was cancelled after their parish church in Santiago was heavily damaged in an earthquake in 2010. Pope Francis, however, offered to take things a step further and marry them then and there.
The pope performed the brief ceremony in the front of the plane. Ignacio Cueto, president of Latam airlines, who was on board, acted as a witness. An improvised marriage certificate was signed by the pope, the couple, Mr Cueto, and a bishop who was also on the plane. The Catholic Church's view that civil wedding ceremonies are not valid was, therefore, averted, and the couple's two children were no longer considered to be born out of wedlock.
"Being married by a pope on board a flight is something priceless, Ms Podest said. 'I asked him: 'Do you marry people?' He said: 'Yes, from time to time.'" Pope Francis also gave the couple some words of wisdom to mark the special occasion. Mr Ciuffardi recalled, "What he said to us is very important: 'This is the sacrament the world needs, the sacrament of marriage.'"
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Pope can perform weddings and has done so on several occasions. In 2014, Pope Francis presided over the marriage of 20 couples in St. Peter's Basilica, and in 2016, he did the same for a hearing-impaired couple in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta. In 2018, he even performed a wedding mid-flight.
It is rare for the Pope to perform weddings, and there is no guarantee that a request will be accepted. However, it is possible to send a request to the Vatican administration for consideration.
To get married in the Vatican, you need to submit a request well in advance, often at least a year or more. Detailed documentation is required, and there are substantial administrative costs involved. The Vatican authorities prefer weddings to be celebrated among friends and family within the context of the local community.
The dress code for brides is a wedding gown or dress, and grooms and guests are expected to wear formal attire.
While it is not guaranteed, Catholic newlyweds can sometimes meet the Pope and receive a papal blessing. Audiences with the Pope for newlyweds take place in St. Peter's Square, and professional photographers are usually present to capture the moment.
