Honeymooners, Rome & White Smoke

It was May 8 and honeymooners Triston and Kailee Wenturine had spent a long day sightseeing in Rome. At about 6 p.m., they stood near the entrance to Saint Peter’s Square as Cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel to select a new pope.

It was the second day of a conclave that many predicted would last at least three days. The newlyweds, who are Madisonville residents and Mary, Queen of Peace parishioners, were trying to decide whether it was worth their time to wait around just to see black smoke coming from the chapel’s chimney.

“We had just said, ‘It’ll probably be black smoke so is it worth it?’” Kailee said.

Just then, shortly after 6 p.m. Rome time, they heard cheering coming from the square. When they looked up at the chimney, they saw smoke.

At first, Triston said he couldn’t tell if the smoke was white or black. Before long, the crowd made it obvious that Catholics around the world had a new leader. Soon they would find out that they were witnessing a history-making event: the election of the first ever U.S.-born pope.

“I was shaking,” Kailee said.

The reaction was somewhat like when the Saints won the Super Bowl. Bells rang out and many in the crowd were overcome with emotion.

Kailee and Triston said it was especially interesting to see the ecstatic reactions of several priests and nuns who were nearby. A bunch of American study-abroad students who were in a nearby classroom burst from the building and came sprinting down the street toward the square.

“It was just a really cool feeling to be there,” Triston said. Ironically, it was divine intervention that put the couple in Rome that day. 

About a year and a half ago, Triston – a St. Tammany Parish sheriff’s deputy – was driving home early one morning after working the night shift when he had what he calls “a real encounter with God.”

Though he is a cradle Catholic, Triston had drifted away from the faith. But for some reason, he felt compelled to talk to God while on that drive home.

He doesn’t remember what prompted the “conversation” but remembers vividly the outcome, which was a feeling he had never experienced.

“I started getting goosebumps, but I wasn’t cold. It was a feeling of fear, love and ecstasy,” he said. “Then, out of nowhere, I hear within me the words ‘Have faith, my child.’ I started bawling my eyes out.”

Although they were not yet engaged, Triston made an immediate call to Kailee, a petroleum engineer who has been an ardent Catholic her whole life.

“I was like ‘Oh my gosh, you’re not going to believe what just happened,’” said Triston, a 28-year-old Norco native.

Soon afterward, Triston began attending Mass at MQP with Kailee. After getting engaged, they began working with Deacon Eddy Beckendorf as part of their marriage preparation.

Long before Pope Francis became ill, they set their wedding date for May 3, 2025, in North Carolina.

“As soon as we got engaged, he (Triston) said ‘I want to go to Rome. I want to see the Vatican,’” Kailee said.

Triston said his renewed faith – and his Italian heritage – made him want to visit the location of the Catholic Church's supreme authority.

As a wedding gift, Kailee’s grandparents gave the couple a tour of the Vatican – for May 8, the day of the billowing white smoke. 

 This column was originally published as part of Mary, Queen of Peace Parish’s “Saints Under Construction” features. For more”Saints Under Construction” stories visit https://maryqueenofpeace.org/