On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the 56th anniversary of the first moon landing by visiting the Vatican’s astronomical observatory and making a special phone call to astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
After leading the traditional Sunday prayer (Angelus) at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the Pope visited the nearby Vatican Observatory. The observatory is located within the Pontifical Villas and has been a place where faith and science come together to explore the universe. The Pope looked closely at the telescopes and spoke with astronomers and students attending the observatory’s annual summer school.
This visit was Pope Leo’s first time at the observatory, which was officially founded in 1891 by Pope Leo XIII. However, its origins go back even further to 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII started a commission to study the calendar reform and its scientific implications.
The Vatican Observatory is known worldwide for its top-level research and impressive meteorite collection, including pieces from Mars.
Later that evening, Pope Leo called astronaut Buzz Aldrin, one of the three Apollo 11 astronauts who took part in the historic 1969 moon landing
“Today, 56 years after Apollo 11 landed on the moon, I spoke with astronaut Buzz Aldrin,” the Pope posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account. “We remembered that amazing achievement, a symbol of human creativity and a reflection of the wonder of God’s creation.”
Pope Leo also offered a blessing to Aldrin, his family, and his team.
This isn’t the first time a pope has reached out to space. In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI spoke with astronauts on the International Space Station, asking them about Earth’s future and environmental concerns. Earlier in 1969, after the moon landing, Pope Paul VI sent a radio message to the astronauts, calling them “conquerors of the Moon.”
This event highlights how the Catholic Church continues to support scientific discovery and honors the achievements of humanity in space exploration.
