Pope Leo XIV Visits Vatican Observatory, Calls Buzz Aldrin for Moon Landing Anniversary

Pope Leo XIV commemorated the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing with a visit to the Vatican astronomical observatory in Castel Gandolfo, where he engaged with astronomers and students about the observatory's historic role in faith-based celestial research. Founded in 1891 by Pope Leo XIII, the observatory houses a renowned meteorite collection and has contributed significantly to scientific study. Later, the pope called astronaut Buzz Aldrin, one of the Apollo 11 moonwalkers, to reflect on the historic feat and human ingenuity involved, offering blessings to Aldrin and his collaborators. Aldrin, who recently celebrated the 55th anniversary of the moon landing, recalled the teamwork and dedication behind the mission and invoked President John F. Kennedy’s inspiring 1962 speech that set the stage for the lunar goal. The pope's interaction with Aldrin continued a tradition of papal outreach to astronauts, emphasizing the intersection of science, faith, and human achievement in space exploration.