This is how the arrival of man to the moon was experienced in the Vatican

On this day, 55 years ago, man reached the Moon aboard Apollo 11. How was that event experienced from the Vatican?

On the night of July 20, 1969, half the world closely followed this historical eventincluding the Pope at that time, Paul VI.

The Pontiff It was in the Vatican Observatoryknown as “Specola” and located in Castel Gandolfo, the place where Popes traditionally retire to rest during their vacations.

The Holy Father visited the Observatory’s telescopes and watched the landing on the Moon on television from the “Schmidt” dome.

Later, he gave a speech: “Here, from his Castel Gandolfo Observatory, near Rome, Pope Paul VI speaks to the astronauts. Honor, greetings and blessings to you, conquerors of the Moon, pale lamp of our nights and our dreams.”

“Bring to her, with your living presence, the voice of the spirit, a hymn to God, our Creator and our Father. We are close to you, with our good wishes and our prayers. “Together with the entire Catholic Church, Pope Paul VI greets you,” he concluded.

That day, the Jesuit priest and English astronomer Christopher Corbally was, at 22 years old, doing an internship at the Vatican Observatory.

In statements to ACI Prensa, he explained: “During the Pope’s broadcast, I was on the outside terrace of the dome with the technicians”.

“So when the Pope came out to the terrace after the broadcast to thank the technicians, I joined the queue and the then director of the observatory, Father Daniel O’Connell, introduced me to Pope Paul VI,” he noted. .

Finally, he recounted. “It was a doubly memorable occasion for me: the arrival of man on the Moon and the meeting with the Pope.”