On Thursday morning, July 31, the liturgical memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Pope Leo XIV appointed Father Richard Anthony D’Souza, S.J. as new Director of the Vatican Observatory. Fr. D'Souza has been serving at the Observatory as an astronomer for many years and he will begin his new role as Director on September 19, 2025.
In accordance to Article 19 of Title V of the Law on the Government of the Vatican City State of 25 November 2018, among the scientific bodies under the authority of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, reference is made to the Vatican Observatory. It is defined as a scientific body engaged in astronomical research, whose autonomy is governed by specific regulations. In this interview, published in www.vaticanstate.va Fr. D'Souza retraces the mission of the Vatican Observatory and his plans for the near future.
WHAT WAS THE REACTION TO YOUR NEW PAPAL NOMINATION TO HEAD THE VATICAN OBSERVATORY?
Well, I cannot but feel very honored to be appointed by Pope Leo XIV as the next Director of the Vatican Observatory. On one hand, I am aware of the many high-profile Jesuits who have held this position in the past and have paved the way for the Observatory’s success today: I am truly standing on the shoulders of giants. On the other hand, I understand the great responsibility entrusted to me of guiding the Vatican Observatory at this critical time, so that the Specola continues to serve the Pope and the Universal Church, promoting the dialogue between faith and science, through solid scientific research.
HOW DO YOU RECONCILE BELONGING TO THE SOCIETY OF JESUS WITH YOUR ACTIVITY AS AN ASTRONOMER?
The Society of Jesus has had a long tradition of Jesuits working in the sciences. One can think of Christopher Clavius, Athanasius Kircher, Roger Boscovich, Angelo Secchi, and countless other Jesuits who made valuable contributions to astronomy. The Jesuit spirituality, which is incarnational, encourages us to “find God in all things”. Our founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola, himself received great consolation from gazing at the sky and the stars; he encouraged us to see how God was working and laboring for us in his creation. The results of our astronomical research can become a way to praise God as we marvel at what he has created. Our contact with our scientist-colleagues permits us to be present in a pastoral sense and provides a visible sign that the Church is active and present at the margins as well as the frontiers.
HOW DOES THE ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH OF THE VATICAN OBSERVATORY FIT INTO THE BROADER CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH?
From its inception in 1891, the Vatican Observatory has been well inserted in international scientific collaborations and community. One of the first projects the Observatory participated in was the “Carte du Ciel” project, an ambitious plan to create a map of the entire sky involving more than a dozen observatories spread around the world. This was the first large international scientific collaboration ever conceived.
Today, the Vatican Observatory conducts a wide range of astronomical research – from studying meteorites, near-earth objects, planets, extra-solar planetary systems, stars and stellar structure, galaxies, cosmology, to quantum gravity and the Big Bang. After the publication of Pope Francis’ encyclical letter “Laudato Si’ ”, the Observatory has ventured into the field of meteorological and climate research, made possible with the recent arrival of Fr. Bayu Risanto, S.J. Each of the various members of the Vatican Observatory is inserted in a unique field of research, collaborating with colleagues in that particular field of study. In this way, the Observatory reaches out to a wide spectrum of scientists. The Observatory, with a second ‘seat’ in Tucson, Arizona, is also well inserted into the large astronomical community based in the United States. The Observatory regularly organizes important international conferences in Rome or Castel Gandolfo, as well as collaborates with the Pontifical Academy of the Sciences. In particular, the Lemaitre Conferences organized by Fr. Gabriele Gionti, S.J., have been acclaimed for their depth and their ability to attract high-profile scientists, including Nobel laureates. While the Observatory collaborates regularly with numerous research institutions around the world, it is also particularly positioned to undertake long-term research projects that would not be possible in the present framework of time-limited grants and funding.
Furthermore, our members regularly serve the international scientific community through important roles and positions in the International Astronomical Union and the Meteoritical Society. A good example of this is that our Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J. is currently serving as the President of the Meteoritical Society.
While the Vatican Observatory, with its limited access to funding, cannot rival the contributions of other state-funded observatories, it nevertheless continues to punch above its weight in terms of influence and quality of astronomical research – it symbolically and concretely demonstrates that “the Church is not opposed to true and solid science, but it embraces it, encourages it with the fullest possible dedication” (Ut Mysticam, Motu Propio of Pope Leo XIII in 1891 at the re-establishment of the Vatican Observatory).
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE VATICAN OBSERVATORY FACES IN THE FIELD OF CONTEMPORARY ASTRONOMY?
The world of astronomical research has dramatically changed in the last 40 years. Today, the frontiers of astronomy are now routinely probed with a) larger and larger telescopes, b) instruments costing millions of euro funded by several countries combined, and c) collaborations involving hundreds of scientists. The Vatican Observatory’s strategic independence does not give it automatic access to projects, instruments and data funded by European and U.S. research agencies. Yet, our members, through their intellectual capital and collaborative spirit, have been routinely invited to make professional contributions to these international projects. The challenge going forward is to help our scientific members gain access to these projects so that they can continue to make important scientific contributions on the international stage. On the other hand, the Observatory, due to its independence, can embark on scientific projects that test or challenge the current mainstream paradigms, or do a type of science that is difficult to fund in other contexts. In the coming years, the Observatory needs to balance the benefits that come from its independence with its ability to collaborate with larger international projects.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE VATICAN OBSERVATORY IN PROMOTING DIALOGUE BETWEEN SCIENCE AND FAITH?
The scientific research work of the Observatory constantly contributes as proof that science and faith are perfectly compatible. In the 1980s, Pope John Paul II formally commissioned the Observatory to promote public dialogue between science and faith in Catholic Universities throughout the world. From this was born a series of seminars on “Divine Action in the Universe” in collaboration with the Center of Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS). At the academic level, our members continue to take part in numerous efforts to promote the dialogue between science and faith through articles, seminars, and meetings. On the other hand, a large part of our effort is also dedicated to didactically educating the Church through seminars, both online and in-person, that faith and science go together seamlessly.
HOW DOES THE VATICAN OBSERVATORY CONTRIBUTE TO SCIENTIFIC DISSEMINATION AND THE TRAINING OF NEW GENERATIONS OF SCIENTISTS?
Since the 1980s, the Vatican Observatory has held a prestigious biennial month-long summer school for young astronomy students from around the world, with a particular focus on helping students from developing countries launch into academic careers. The schools remain a memorable event in the lives of all our students. Today, the network of ex-students from these schools extends all around the world: they are well inserted in academic and university positions and this in turn earns a lot of goodwill for the Observatory and the Church. Not only has the model of these schools been replicated by other institutions, but today we are witnessing the phenomenon in which many of our successful alumni return to lead future schools as faculty and resource persons – in some way passing on to the next generation what they have generously received in the past. Above all, the summer schools train students not only to be the best in their field but also help them to focus on building networks and relationships.
WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES AND SKILLS TO WORK AT THE VATICAN OBSERVATORY?
Since the 1930s, the Society of Jesus has taken the responsibility of forming and staffing the Vatican Observatory. A large part of the Jesuit staff is made up of researchers who do astronomical research and are dedicated to understanding the universe. We also have several Jesuits involved in administration and fundraising, essential to enable the continuation of scientific research by the other members. We also have a few Jesuits interested in the history of science and astronomy, as well as public outreach, also important for making the work of the Specolaknown to the public. Besides our lay administrative staff, which supports our work in Castel Gandolfo, we also have several collaborators who support the telescope on Mount Graham in Tucson, Arizona. Apart from the permanent scientific staff of the Specola, we also have a group of adjunct scholars of the Vatican Observatory, who are formally associated with us and who collaborate with us in our work, and extend the reach of the Vatican Observatory.
Much of the success of the Observatory comes from the rich network of relationships and friendships that we have established and maintained over the years. Two qualities that are essential to work at the Specola are a love for the sciences and an ability to collaborate well with others. A person called to work at the Observatory, must also be thoughtful and discreet as they represent the Church and the Vatican in the scientific world.
