Pope Francis weds attendants mid-flight

Pope Francis weds attendants mid-flight
By Hannah Edensor


We love a good Friday story, and by golly have we got a doozy today.

Religious figure and man loved by most of the world, Pope Francis, is making headlines having wed two flight attendants mid-air while flying between two Chilean cities.

The bride, 39-year-old Paula Podest Ruiz, and groom, 41-year-old Carlos Ciuffardi Elorriga, had previously wed at a civil union eight years ago, however, were still hoping to one day to have a religious ceremony after the original ceremony was cancelled.

After explaining this to Pope Francis, they then asked him to simply bless their marriage, but he may have one-upped that a tiny bit.

Speaking to reporters after the event, Ciuffardi Elorriga said, “We told him that we are husband and wife. That we have two daughters and that we would have loved to receive his blessing.

“All of a sudden, he asked us if we were married for the Church too.”

The reason the original religious ceremony was cancelled was due to the 2010 earthquake which damaged their church.

“He liked us and he asked: ‘Do you want me to marry you?’ He asked: ‘Are you sure?,’ Podest Ruiz said.

“‘Yes of course,’ we said.”

According to ABC News, the Pope then performed the ceremony at the front of the plane.

Coincidently, the president of Latam Airlines, Ignacio Cueto, was on the plane and acted as a witness.

A makeshift marriage certificate was then drafted and signed by Cueto.

9342226-3x2-700x467

“Being married by a pope on board a flight is something priceless,” Podest said.

“I asked him: ‘Do you marry people?’ He said: ‘Yes, from time to time. I have married 40 couples.’ But never has a pope married somebody on a flight,” she added.

Latest News

  • Aviation

Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

  • Attractions

SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

  • Cruise

Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

  • Technology
  • Travel Agents

Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]