Vatican astronomers have reportedly been working towards locating extraterrestrial life. Earlier in March, the Vatican Observatory cosponsored a major conference on extraterrestrial life that brought together 200 of the leading astrobiologists in the world.
One of the organizers stated that one of the goals of the conference was to figure out “how we can find life among the stars within the next two decades.” Some high profile Vatican astronomers seem quite confident that “something” is out there.
The question that comes to mind is why this level of interest from the Vatican: Is there something they know that the general public isn’t aware of? Why are they taking a lead role in areas that are not within the traditional Catholic scope or domain?
José Gabriel Funes, an Argentine Jesuit priest and astronomer, and the current director of the Vatican Observatory says there is no conflict between believing in God and in the possibility of extraterrestrial civilizations perhaps more evolved than humans: “Just as there is a multiplicity of creatures on earth, there can be other beings, even intelligent, created by God. This is not in contrast with our faith because we can’t put limits on God’s creative freedom.
"Why can’t we speak of a ‘brother extraterrestrial’? It would still be part of creation… There could be other beings 'who remained in full friendship with their creator.'” Another prominent Vatican astronomer, Guy Consolmagno, has publicly suggested that aliens could actually be the 'saviors of humankind.'
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