Spirituality
Vatican Says Aliens Could Exist by David Willey BBC News, Rome
By David Willey, BBC News, Rome
David Willey has been the BBC's Rome Correspondent since 1971 and is one of the veterans of BBC News.He is the author of an acclaimed critical biography of Pope John Paul II, God's Politician, (Faber & Faber 1992) and also of Italians (BBC 1984), published in connection with a successful BBC Television series. From the Vatican, he reported extensively the whole record breaking pontificate of John Paul II, whom he accompanied on more than 40 of his foreign journeys.David Willey was awarded the Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty The Queen in 2003 for his services to broadcasting journalism. For more information, visit www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/news/davidwilley.shtml
May 18, 2008 - 9:57:06 AM

"The Pope's chief astronomer says that life on Mars cannot be ruled out.

Writing in the Vatican newspaper, the astronomer, Father Gabriel Funes, said intelligent beings created by God could exist in outer space.

Father Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory near Rome, is a respected scientist who collaborates with universities around the world.

The search for forms of extraterrestrial life, he says, does not contradict belief in God.

The official Vatican newspaper headlines his article 'Aliens Are My Brother'.

'Free from sin'

Just as there are multiple forms of life on earth, so there could exist intelligent beings in outer space created by God. And some aliens could even be free from original sin, he speculates.

Asked about the Catholic Church's condemnation four centuries ago of the Italian astronomer and physicist, Galileo, Father Funes diplomatically says mistakes were made, but it is time to turn the page and look towards the future.

Science and religion need each other, and many astronomers believe in God, he assures readers.

To strengthen its scientific credentials, the Vatican is organising a conference next year to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the author of the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin." BBC News

Press Office, Biographies, David Willey, BBC Rome Correspondent, www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/news/davidwilley.shtml

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