Leo XIV Visit the Vatican Observatory for the anniversary of the arrival of man to the Moon

Within the framework of the 56th anniversary of the arrival of man to the Moon, Pope Leo XIV visited the Vatican Astronomical Observatory on Sunday, also known as La Specola Vaticana, located in the town of Castel Gandolfo, southeast of Rome.

The Holy Father’s visit was made after the Angelus prayer, and was informed by the press office of the Holy See through its official channels at WhatsApp and Telegram.

During the tour, According to Vatican Newsthe Pope was able to contemplate closely “the telescopes and the scientific instrumentation located in the domes of the observatory, guided by experts of the Department of Astrophysics.”

The date of the visit was not accidental: on July 20, but from 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked for the first time on the surface of the moon, while Michael Collins orbited in the Apollo Command Module 11. That historical transmission was followed by more than 650 million people around the world, recalls the Vatican medium.

A Pope close to science

On June 16, Pope Leo XIV, who has a degree in Mathematics from the University of Villanova, had already expressed his appreciation for astronomy, upon receiving the participants of the Summer School of the Vatican Observatory of this year.

On that occasion, he asked the young scientists to never forget “that what they do is destined to benefit everyone.” “Be generous when sharing what they learn and what they live, to the extent of your possibilities and in any way possible.”

In addition, he urged them not to hesitate to share “the joy and amazement born of your contemplation of the ‘seeds’ that, in the words of St. Augustine, God has sown in the harmony of the universe.”

This school is held every two years and congregates young astronomers from different countries. In its most recent edition he brought together 24 students from 22 nations, under the subject: “Explore the universe with the James Webb space telescope”, an instrument that has revolutionized astronomical observation since 2022.

In this regard, the Pope highlighted the importance of the advances said telescope: “For the first time we can deeply observe the atmosphere of exoplanets where life is perhaps developing, and studying the nebulae where the planetary systems themselves are being formed”, as well as tracking “the ancient light of distant galaxies, which speaks of the same beginning of our universe.”