Pope to Vatican Observatory: Church embraces science to seek God in Creation

Vatican, May 11, 2026: Pope Leo XIV, while meeting with the Vatican Observatory Foundation, reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to seeking God through His Creation by embracing rigorous and honest scientific inquiry.

In his address, the Pope recalled that Pope Leo XIII re-established the Vatican Observatory in 1891 during a period when science was increasingly being portrayed as being in opposition to religion.

The 19th-century Pope had stated that he was re-founding the institution 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.”

Pope Leo XIV noted that in the present age, both faith and science are confronted by a more subtle danger from those who reject the existence of objective truth itself.

“Too many in our world refuse to acknowledge what both science and the Church plainly teach,” he said, “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.”

The Pope said the Church’s commitment to studying the heavens through astronomy demonstrates that she accepts “rigorous, honest science” as an important part of her identity.

He reflected that human beings have been given by God the gift of gazing with wonder at the sun, moon, and stars.

Observing the night sky, he said, offers a treasure of beauty accessible to both rich and poor alike, remaining one of the few truly universal sources of joy in a divided world.

“Contemplating the heavens invites us to see our fears and failings in the light of God’s immensity,” he said.

Pope Leo XIV also expressed concern that artificial light created by humanity has obscured the lights placed by God in the heavens, making the mission of the Vatican Observatory more significant than ever.

He highlighted that the Vatican Observatory Foundation supports students in studying astronomy through summer schools and workshops.

Through these efforts, he said, the Foundation enables the Vatican Observatory’s telescopes to continue serving as “places where the glory of God’s Creation is encountered with reverence, depth, and joy.”

In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV reminded the faithful not to lose sight of the fact that Christianity is rooted in the Incarnation, through which God revealed Himself in Creation and sent His only Son for its redemption.

“The hunger to understand Creation more fully,” he said, “is nothing less than a reflection of that restless longing for God, which lies at the heart of every human soul.”

Courtesy: Vatican News