By Mark Abrams

VATICAN CITY (CBS) – With the cardinals of the Catholic Church ready to be sealed in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave to pick the new pope, the wait begins.

Rob Traver, of Schwenksville, Pa., teaches civil and environmental engineering at Villanova University. He and his wife, Pam Porter, booked their vacation to Rome some time back.

But timing, as they say, is everything, and they’re here at a historic point in the life of the Catholic Church.

READ: Cardinals Celebrate Final Mass Before Going Into Conclave

Traver says his Villanova students and colleagues are a bit jealous, “Everybody there is really tuned into this. It’s just a very lovely time to be here.”

How long are they planning to be in Rome?

“For another couple days, so we hope they make the decision fast,” Traver tells KYW Newsradio.

Pam Porter, of Schwenksville, a consultant, vacationing in Rome with her husband. (Credit: Mark Abrams)

Pam says you can feel the excitement in the air throughout Rome, “I think everybody’s just waiting. There’s a heightened anticipation. Everybody’s got an ear tuned to the news.”

And this square will get crowded pretty quickly as thousands race to be here once the white smoke from the Sistine Chapel is spotted.