Pope Leo XIV marked the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on Sunday with a visit to the Vatican Observatory in Castel Gandolfo and a telephone call to astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
After praying the Angelus at his summer residence, the pontiff toured the observatory, examining telescopes that have long supported celestial research from a faith perspective. He was accompanied by astronomers and students attending the observatory's summer school.
This was Pope Leo's first visit to the facility, which was founded in 1891 by Pope Leo XIII. The Vatican Observatory is known for its meteorite collection, including fragments from Mars, and its contributions to scientific research.
Later, the pope spoke with Buzz Aldrin, who, along with Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins, made the historic moonwalk in 1969. In a post on X, Pope Leo said they shared memories of the feat and reflected on the mystery of Creation. He then blessed Aldrin, his family, and his collaborators.
The call follows a tradition of papal outreach to astronauts. In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI spoke with the International Space Station, and Pope Paul VI sent a radio message to the Apollo 11 crew after their moonwalk.
