VATICAN CITY (Nov. 10) - E.T. phone Rome. Four hundred years after it locked up Galileo for challenging the view that the Earth was the center of the universe, the Vatican has called in experts to study the possibility of extraterrestrial alien life and its implication for the Catholic Church.
"The questions of life's origins and of whether life exists elsewhere in the universe are very suitable and deserve serious consideration," said the Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, an astronomer and director of the Vatican Observatory.
Skip over this content
Gregorio Borgia, AP
The Vatican is exploring the possibility that extraterrestrial life forms may exist. Here, Pope Benedict XVI admires the sky above Sydney, Australia, in July 2008.
Funes, a Jesuit priest, presented the results Tuesday of a five-day conference that gathered astronomers, physicists, biologists and other experts to discuss the budding field of astrobiology — the study of the origin of life and its existence elsewhere in the cosmos.
Funes said the possibility of alien life raises "many philosophical and theological implications" but added that the gathering was mainly focused on the scientific perspective and how different disciplines can be used to explore the issue.
Chris Impey, an astronomy professor at the University of Arizona, said it was appropriate that the Vatican would host such a meeting.
"Both science and religion posit life as a special outcome of a vast and mostly inhospitable universe," he told a news conference Tuesday. "There is a rich middle ground for dialogue between the practitioners of astrobiology and those who seek to understand the meaning of our existence in a biological universe."
Thirty scientists, including non-Catholics, from the U.S., France, Britain, Switzerland, Italy and Chile attended the conference, called to explore among other issues "whether sentient life forms exist on other worlds."
Funes set the stage for the conference a year ago when he discussed the possibility of alien life in an interview given prominence in the Vatican's daily newspaper.
The Church of Rome's views have shifted radically through the centuries since Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake as a heretic in 1600 for speculating, among other ideas, that other worlds could be inhabited.
Scientists have discovered hundreds of planets outside our solar system — including 32 new ones announced recently by the European Space Agency. Impey said the discovery of alien life may be only a few years away.
"If biology is not unique to the Earth, or life elsewhere differs bio-chemically from our version, or we ever make contact with an intelligent species in the vastness of space, the implications for our self-image will be profound," he said.
This is not the first time the Vatican has explored the issue of extraterrestrials: In 2005, its observatory brought together top researchers in the field for similar discussions.
In the interview last year, Funes told Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano that believing the universe may host aliens, even intelligent ones, does not contradict a faith in God.
"How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?" Funes said in that interview.
"Just as there is a multitude of creatures on Earth, there could be other beings, even intelligent ones, created by God. This does not contradict our faith, because we cannot put limits on God's creative freedom."
Funes maintained that if intelligent beings were discovered, they would also be considered "part of creation."
The Roman Catholic Church's relationship with science has come a long way since Galileo was tried as a heretic in 1633 and forced to recant his finding that the Earth revolves around the sun. Church teaching at the time placed Earth at the center of the universe.
Today top clergy, including Funes, openly endorse scientific ideas like the Big Bang theory as a reasonable explanation for the creation of the universe. The theory says the universe began billions of years ago in the explosion of a single, super-dense point that contained all matter.
Earlier this year, the Vatican also sponsored a conference on evolution to mark the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin's "The Origin of Species."
The event snubbed proponents of alternative theories, like creationism and intelligent design, which see a higher being rather than the undirected process of natural selection behind the evolution of species.
Still, there are divisions on the issues within the Catholic Church and within other religions, with some favoring creationism or intelligent design that could make it difficult to accept the concept of alien life.
Working with scientists to explore fundamental questions that are of interest to religion is in line with the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI, who has made strengthening the relationship between faith and reason a key aspect of his papacy.
Recent popes have been working to overcome the accusation that the church was hostile to science — a reputation grounded in the Galileo affair.
In 1992, Pope John Paul II declared the ruling against the astronomer was an error resulting from "tragic mutual incomprehension."
The Vatican Museums opened an exhibit last month marking the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first celestial observations.
Tommaso Maccacaro, president of Italy's national institute of astrophysics, said at the exhibit's Oct. 13 opening that astronomy has had a major impact on the way we perceive ourselves.
"It was astronomical observations that let us understand that Earth (and man) don't have a privileged position or role in the universe," he said. "I ask myself what tools will we use in the next 400 years, and I ask what revolutions of understanding they'll bring about, like resolving the mystery of our apparent cosmic solitude."
The Vatican Observatory has also been at the forefront of efforts to bridge the gap between religion and science. Its scientist-clerics have generated top-notch research and its meteorite collection is considered one of the world's best.
The observatory, founded by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, is based in Castel Gandolfo, a lakeside town in the hills outside Rome where the pope has his summer residence. It also conducts research at an observatory at the University of Arizona, in Tucson.
Associated Press writers Victor L. Simpson and Alessandra Rizzo contributed to this report.






If we all stood before each other today naked and penniless, how would
we look to one another? We would be loving and kind without prejudice
and propaganda. Pure
When we celebrate Christs birthday, we celebrate the true essence of
innocence. Like baby jesus. we were born naked and poor. We die naked.
Where is the power? spiritualism is the power!
During Christmas people become child like again, we recapture youth and share joy and freely give love. We should be able to say Christ
anyday of the year without feeling uneasy! Why should there be any
shame? Christmas is a holiday to be celebrated by all demoninations.
Everyone can celebrate the memory of their innocence during christmas. Christmas is a
time to unite with the world, spread peace, good cheer and cherish the
beauty of friendship. Christmas memories are true everlasing magic.
That holy power comes through giving and accepting love, believing in
miracles, respecting life and Gods beautiful planet. It isn't felt through materialism. You feel the Holy Spirit especially at christmas! You can't package that. There isn't a package big
enough to hold that much power! There isn't a kingdom or castle to hold that much power! The power comes through having faith in each
other through our faith in christ. We are made in his image. We all have a special
talent. We have true purpose on the planet. We should enjoy life! No human
has the right to take that privelege away from anyone. It goes against all the laws of nature and the galaxy. Christmas is the perfect time to tell
your neighbor how happy you are to be in their realm sharing this
magical life!
Christmas Belongs To Us Through Jesus Name And Selfless Sacrifice For Humanity!
The kings could could not see Christ inner beauty. They were tained. Christmas is an essential holiday. It takes us to our roots and restores the light in our spirit and lifts our hearts to the heaven. Christmas helps us remember how magical it was to be blemish free and young. To have the mind of a child is great. Purity is the greatest gift.
We loose our worldly possessions before we go home.
Below is a story I wrote about a little nun who never lost her innocence. She ermained an angel her entire life and touched so many lives. You can read the story for free
http://books.google.com/books?id=abZWK3sx40sC&dq=sherry+mcdowell+a+farmers+
Please Try To Keep Christ In Christmas. If you like this, pass it on.
Sorry you miss me. Been busy. Got your emails. I wanna c the pic. Have you finished your christmas shopping? When you test out your camera tell me how it works.
I"ve been taking care of loose ends. The vatican has two new religious message sites since this one. They are finally saying the end of the world is near..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfjG7fo3y4k