Pope Leo XIV Praises Astronomy saying "The hunger to understand creation more fully is...a reflection of that restless longing for God which lies at the heart of every soul" FULL TEXT
Pope Leo XIV held an audience on Monday with the Board of the Vatican Observatory Foundation. In his address, the Pope recalled that Pope Leo XIII re-founded the Vatican Observatory in 1891, at a time when science was being presented as a rival source of truth to religion.
FULL ADDRESS OF POPE LEO XIV
TO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF THE VATICAN OBSERVATORY FOUNDATION
in the Consistory Hall on Monday, 11 May 2026
________________________
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.
Your Eminence, President of Governatorato,
Dear friends, Dear brothers and sisters,
I am deeply grateful to be meeting with you, the members of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, and I thank you for your faithful and generous support of the work of the Vatican Observatory – a cherished institution of the Vatican City State at the service of the Holy See and of the Universal Church.
One hundred and thirty-five years ago, my predecessor Pope Leo XIII re-founded the Vatican Observatory so that “everyone might see clearly that the Church and her Pastors are not opposed to true and solid science, whether human or divine, but that they embrace it, encourage it, and promote it with the fullest possible devotion” (Ut Mysticam, 14 March 1891). In that era, science was increasingly being presented as a rival source of truth to religion so that the Church felt an urgent need to counter the growing perception that faith and science were enemies.
Yet today, both science and religion face a different and perhaps more insidious threat: those who deny the very existence of objective truth. Too many in our world refuse to acknowledge what both science and the Church plainly teach – that we bear a solemn responsibility for the stewardship of our planet and for the welfare of those who dwell upon it, especially the most vulnerable, whose lives are imperilled by the reckless exploitation of both people and the natural world. This is precisely why the Church’s embrace of rigorous, honest science remains not merely valuable, but essential.
Astronomy holds a particular place in this mission. The capacity to gaze with wonder at the sun, the moon, and stars is a gift given to every human being, regardless of station or circumstance. It awakens in us both awe and a saving sense of proportion. Contemplating the heavens invites us to see our fears and our failings in the light of God’s immensity. The night sky is a treasury of beauty open to all – rich and poor alike – and in a world so painfully divided, it remains one of the last truly universal sources of joy.
Tragically, even this gift is now under threat. To paraphrase Pope Benedict, we have filled our skies with man-made light that blinds us to the lights God has placed there – a fitting image, he suggested, of sin itself (cf. Homily, 7 April 2012).
It is in this context that I express my profound gratitude for the work of the Foundation. Your commitment enables the Vatican's scientists to engage meaningfully with the wider public and with the global scientific community. Your generosity makes it possible for the Vatican Observatory to share the wonder of astronomy with students from across the world, and to offer workshops and summer schools to those serving in Catholic schools and parishes. And it is ultimately your dedication that keeps the Observatory’s telescopes and laboratories what they were always meant to be: places where the glory of God’s creation is encountered with reverence, with depth, and joy.
We must never lose sight of the theological vision that animates all of this. Ours is a religion of the Incarnation. Scripture teaches us that from the very beginning, God has made himself known through the things he has created (cf. Rom 1:20), and that God so loved this creation that he sent his own Son to enter into it and redeem it (cf. Jn 3:16). It is therefore no surprise that people of deep faith feel drawn to explore the origins and workings of the Universe. The hunger to understand creation more fully is nothing less than a reflection of that restless longing for God which lies at the heart of every soul.
In expressing once again my gratitude for your support, I willingly invoke upon you and your families the abundant blessings of Almighty God. Thank you!
TO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF THE VATICAN OBSERVATORY FOUNDATION
in the Consistory Hall on Monday, 11 May 2026
________________________
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.
Your Eminence, President of Governatorato,
Dear friends, Dear brothers and sisters,
I am deeply grateful to be meeting with you, the members of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, and I thank you for your faithful and generous support of the work of the Vatican Observatory – a cherished institution of the Vatican City State at the service of the Holy See and of the Universal Church.
One hundred and thirty-five years ago, my predecessor Pope Leo XIII re-founded the Vatican Observatory so that “everyone might see clearly that the Church and her Pastors are not opposed to true and solid science, whether human or divine, but that they embrace it, encourage it, and promote it with the fullest possible devotion” (Ut Mysticam, 14 March 1891). In that era, science was increasingly being presented as a rival source of truth to religion so that the Church felt an urgent need to counter the growing perception that faith and science were enemies.
Yet today, both science and religion face a different and perhaps more insidious threat: those who deny the very existence of objective truth. Too many in our world refuse to acknowledge what both science and the Church plainly teach – that we bear a solemn responsibility for the stewardship of our planet and for the welfare of those who dwell upon it, especially the most vulnerable, whose lives are imperilled by the reckless exploitation of both people and the natural world. This is precisely why the Church’s embrace of rigorous, honest science remains not merely valuable, but essential.
Astronomy holds a particular place in this mission. The capacity to gaze with wonder at the sun, the moon, and stars is a gift given to every human being, regardless of station or circumstance. It awakens in us both awe and a saving sense of proportion. Contemplating the heavens invites us to see our fears and our failings in the light of God’s immensity. The night sky is a treasury of beauty open to all – rich and poor alike – and in a world so painfully divided, it remains one of the last truly universal sources of joy.
Tragically, even this gift is now under threat. To paraphrase Pope Benedict, we have filled our skies with man-made light that blinds us to the lights God has placed there – a fitting image, he suggested, of sin itself (cf. Homily, 7 April 2012).
It is in this context that I express my profound gratitude for the work of the Foundation. Your commitment enables the Vatican's scientists to engage meaningfully with the wider public and with the global scientific community. Your generosity makes it possible for the Vatican Observatory to share the wonder of astronomy with students from across the world, and to offer workshops and summer schools to those serving in Catholic schools and parishes. And it is ultimately your dedication that keeps the Observatory’s telescopes and laboratories what they were always meant to be: places where the glory of God’s creation is encountered with reverence, with depth, and joy.
We must never lose sight of the theological vision that animates all of this. Ours is a religion of the Incarnation. Scripture teaches us that from the very beginning, God has made himself known through the things he has created (cf. Rom 1:20), and that God so loved this creation that he sent his own Son to enter into it and redeem it (cf. Jn 3:16). It is therefore no surprise that people of deep faith feel drawn to explore the origins and workings of the Universe. The hunger to understand creation more fully is nothing less than a reflection of that restless longing for God which lies at the heart of every soul.
In expressing once again my gratitude for your support, I willingly invoke upon you and your families the abundant blessings of Almighty God. Thank you!
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