Winnipeg Couple Receives Personal Blessing from Pope in Rome

A couple from Winnipeg experienced a momentous occasion when they received a personal blessing from Pope Leo during their honeymoon in Rome. Bénédicte LeMaître, 31, and Stéphan Kosowski, 38, were married on July 25, 2023, and attended the pope’s general audience on July 30, 2023, seated in the “Sposi novelli,” or “newlyweds,” section at St. Peter’s Square.

For LeMaître, a choir teacher at St. Mary’s Academy and a cantor at St. Mary’s Cathedral, meeting the pope was a lifelong dream. “It’s been my dream in life to meet a pope,” she remarked. The couple decided to extend their honeymoon in Rome after learning that the pope would hold a general audience just five days post-wedding. “In summer, the Pope doesn’t always have a general audience on Wednesdays,” LeMaître explained.

To sit in the newlyweds section, couples must have been married in a Catholic ceremony within the last two months, dressed in their wedding attire. Upon arrival at the square, the couple was escorted to their seats by the Vatican’s Swiss guards. “Our seats were up front very close to the Pope,” said Kosowski, who works as a dentist. “It was a very big honour.”

They joined approximately 30 other couples from around the globe in this special section. “There were couples from the U.S., Sicily, France, Slovakia, and New Zealand sitting near us,” LeMaître noted. The event featured Pope Leo delivering a catechesis, a teaching on faith, before offering blessings to attendees.

Unexpectedly, Pope Leo invited the couple forward for a personal blessing, a rare occurrence. “We told him we were from Canada. He offered a blessing on us for a happy and unified marriage together … it was astounding to be invited to meet him one-on-one,” LeMaître shared. Kosowski described the encounter as “a once in a lifetime opportunity,” expressing disbelief at the experience.

After the event, a Vatican reporter captured photos of the couple, which they later purchased. “A few people who saw them asked if they were real, not artificial intelligence,” LeMaître laughed, reflecting on the surreal nature of their encounter.

John Acosta, director of pastoral care for the Archdiocese of Winnipeg, expressed his joy for the newlyweds. “I celebrate that moment with Bénédicte and Stéphan,” he stated. “It’s so great they knew about this opportunity and were able to get this special blessing from the pope.”

While personal blessings from the pope are not common for newlyweds, Acosta emphasized the significance of marriage in the Catholic faith. “Every marriage is special since it is a vocation, just like becoming a priest, and a visible sign of God’s love for the world,” he added.

In light of evolving societal trends, Acosta acknowledged that over 20 percent of Canadians now live in common-law relationships, according to the 2021 census data from Statistics Canada. He noted that this trend includes many Catholics. “Any Catholic can get married in the church, even if they haven’t gone to services for a long time,” he said, inviting couples to reach out for support.

To further support newly married couples, the Archdioceses of Winnipeg and St. Boniface will host a workshop on marriage titled “Come and See” on September 20, 2023, at St. Boniface Cathedral. This event aims to provide resources and ideas to help couples grow in their marriages. More information can be found at: wfp.to/comeandsee.

The inspiring experience of LeMaître and Kosowski underscores the enduring importance of marriage within the Catholic Church and the joy that can come from such significant moments.