VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV met the Board of the Vatican Observatory Foundation lastweek and said the Church supports true science as a way of understanding God’s creation. He warned that both faith and science are being challenged by people who deny objective truth, and he called for greater care for the planet and for the poorest people who suffer most from environmental harm. The Pope said the study of the stars reminds people of beauty, wonder and humanity’s shared place in creation, and he praised the Foundation for helping students study astronomy through its schools and workshops.
Vatican Observatory Foundation was warmly thanked by the Pope for its faithful and generous support of the Vatican Observatory, which has served the Holy See and the universal Church for many decades. Recalling how Pope Leo XIII affirmed that the Church embraces and promotes sound science, the Holy Father said that faith and reason remain united in the search for objective truth, especially at a time when both religion and science are challenged by indifference to humanity’s responsibility towards creation and the most vulnerable. He noted that astronomy has a unique power to inspire wonder and humility, offering all people a glimpse of the beauty and vastness of God’s universe, even as light pollution increasingly obscures the night sky. Praising the Foundation’s support for research, education, and outreach, the Pope said its generosity enables scientists to share the joy of discovery with students, teachers, and parish communities around the world. He concluded by reflecting on the mystery of the Incarnation, observing that the desire to understand the cosmos is ultimately a sign of the human heart’s longing for God, and he invoked abundant blessings upon the Foundation’s members and their families.
Cover Photo & Photo Gallery Below: Murree, Pakistan
