Cincinnati couple witnesses history as first American-born pope is elected
People are rejoicing over the news that Pope Leo XIV has been elected to lead the Catholic Church.
There was a worldwide moment of jubilation when the white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday.
The crowd was in a frenzy in Saint Peter's Square. Amongst all the people were a newlywed couple from Cincinnati.
Mallory and Robby Ruffolo got married 13 days ago. On Thursday, they found themselves in Rome on the final stop on their honeymoon.
The Catholic couple has kept a close eye on the Conclave.
They missed the morning vote but returned later in the day and were welcomed by white smoke.
"People start yelling white smoke, and we look up and see there's white smoke," Robby Ruffolo said. "Everybody started screaming, hugging and cheering."
"I think especially when you see the white smoke," Mallory Ruffolo said. "There's just such a sense of home. We now have direction and a new pope. We know where we're going. Everything's going to be okay."
It was a historic moment for the Catholic Church and a remarkable start to marriage for the Ruffolos.
"To be here as newlyweds, with our first pope, basically in our married life. Then we learn he's American and has a name that we love," Robby Ruffolo said.
The Ruffolos experienced a sensational moment.
"Nobody's going to tell the same story of how their time at the announcement of the new pope went, but the thing everybody had in common is that they encountered Christ," Mark Ruffolo said.