Pope Leo visits Vatican observatory, calls Buzz Aldrin to mark 1969 US moon landing
The American pontiff spoke with the famed Apollo 11 astronaut, reflecting on human ingenuity and the ‘mystery and greatness of Creation’
Pope Leo XIV marked the 56th anniversary of man’s arrival on the moon on Sunday with a visit to the Vatican astronomical observatory in Castel Gandolfo and a call to astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
After praying the Sunday Angelus at his summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, Leo headed to the astronomical observatory located in the Pontifical Villas, where he took a close look at the telescopes that have supported celestial exploration from a faith-based perspective for decades.
The pontiff was accompanied by astronomers and students taking part in the traditional summer school organised by the observatory.
The Vatican Observatory has generated top-notch research from its scientist-clerics, drawing academics to its meteorite collection, which includes bits of Mars and is considered among the world’s best.
Later on Sunday, the pope called astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who shared the historic 1969 moonwalk with Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins.