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The relationship between astronomy and faith in an interview with Father Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory
The extraterrestrial is my brother

Francis M. Valiante

"So we went to see the stars." Cites Dante - the famous verse that closes the last canto - to describe the mission of astronomy. Which is primarily to "give back to people the right size of creatures small and fragile against the backdrop of immeasurable billions and billions of galaxies." And if it turns out not to be the only ones to inhabit the universe? The hypothesis not worried too much. You can believe in God and the extraterrestrials. We can admit the existence of other worlds and other lives, even more advanced than ours, without calling into question the belief in creation, incarnation, redemption. Word of astronomer and priest. Word of Jose Gabriel Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory.
Argentino, forty-five, a Jesuit, Father Funes since August 2006 has the keys located in the historic Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo, which Pius XI granted Vatican Observatory in 1935. In about a year, will return to receive those of the Basilian monastery located on the border between the Pontifical Villas and Albania, where they will move the studies, laboratories and the library of the Observatory. Combines courteous and calm at the slight detachment from earthly things to those used to keep our eyes turned upward. A little 'philosopher and a little' detective, as all astronomers. Contemplating the sky is for him to act more authentically human can do. Why - explained to L'Osservatore Romano "-" expands our hearts and helps us get out of so many hells that humanity has created on earth: the violence, wars, poverty, oppression. "

How was the interest of the Church and the Popes in astronomy?

The origins can be traced back to Gregory XIII, who was the architect of the reform of the calendar in 1582. Father Christopher Clavius, a Jesuit Roman College, was part of the commission that studied this reform. Between the eighteenth and nineteenth century arose three observers on the initiative of the Popes. Then in 1891, in a time of conflict between the world of the Church and the scientific world, Pope Leo XIII wished to establish, or better pay, the Vatican Observatory. He did this precisely to show that the Church was not against science but science promoted a "real and solid", according to his own words. The Observatory was created with a purpose so essentially apologetic, but over the years has become part of the Church's dialogue with the world.

The study of the laws of the universe close to or away from God?

Astronomy has a profound human value. It is a science that opens the heart and mind. It helps us to put into perspective our lives, our hopes, our problems. In this sense - and here I speak as a priest and as a Jesuit - is also a great apostolic instrument that can bring to God

Yet many astronomers do not miss a chance to make a public profession of atheism.

I would say that is a bit 'a myth believe that astronomy atheism promotes a vision of the world. It seems to me just who works at the Observatory offers the best evidence of how people can believe in God and doing science in a serious way. Over many words count our work. Count the credibility and awards won at international level, collaboration with colleagues and institutions from all over the world, the results of our research and our findings. The Church has left a mark on the history of astronomy.

There are some examples.

Just remember that thirty craters of the moon named after Jesuit astronomers old. And what an asteroid was named after my predecessor to the direction of the Observatory, Father George Coyne. One might also recall the importance of contributions such as those of Father O'Connell to the identification of the "Green Ray" or brother Consolmagno the downgrading of Pluto. To say nothing of the Father Corbally - Deputy Director of our Astronomy Center of Tucson - who has worked with a team of NASA to the recent discovery of asteroids remnants of binary systems of stars.

The Church's interest in the study of the universe can be explained by the fact that astronomy is the only science that has to do with infinity and then with God?

To be precise, the universe is not infinite. It is very big but it is finished because of an age: fourteen billion years, according to our latest knowledge. And if you are younger, it means that a limit in space. The universe was born in a given time and has since expanded continuously.

From what it originated?

That remains the big bang, in my opinion, the best explanation of the origin of the universe that we have so far from a scientific perspective.

And then what happened?

For three hundred thousand years the matter, energy, the light remained united in a kind of mixture. The universe was opaque. Then they separated. So we now live in a universe transparent, we can see the light: the most distant galaxies, for example, who came to us after eleven or twelve billion years. We must remember that light travels three hundred thousand kilometers per second. And it is this limit to confirm that the observable universe today is not infinite.

The big bang theory corroborates or contradicts the vision of faith based on the biblical account of creation?

As an astronomer, I continue to believe that God is the creator of the universe and that we are not the product of chance but the children of a good father, who gave us a project of love. The Bible is not fundamentally a book of science. As emphasized in the Dei Verbum, is the book of God's word addressed to us. It is a love letter that God wrote to his people, in a language that dates back two thousand or three thousand years ago. At the time, of course, was totally alien a concept like the big bang. So you can not ask the Bible a scientific answer. Similarly, we do not know if in future more or less near the Big Bang theory will be superseded by a more comprehensive and complete explanation of the origin of the universe. He is currently the best and is not in contradiction with faith. Is reasonable.

But in Genesis it talks about the earth, animals, man and woman. This excludes the possibility of the existence of other worlds or living beings in the universe?

In my opinion this possibility exists. Astronomers believe the universe is made up of one hundred billion galaxies, each of which consists of one hundred billion stars. Many of these, or almost all, could have planets. How can you exclude that life has developed elsewhere? There is a branch of astronomy, the astrobiology, which studies precisely this aspect which has made much progress in recent years. By examining the spectra of light coming from stars and planets, soon will identify the elements of their atmospheres - so-called biomakers - and whether there are conditions for the emergence and development of life. Furthermore, life forms could exist in theory even without oxygen or hydrogen.

It also refers to beings like ourselves or more advanced?

Possibly. So far we have no proof. But certainly in a universe so big we can not exclude this hypothesis.

And this would not be a problem for our faith?

I think not. Just as there is a multiplicity of creatures on earth, so there may be other beings, even intelligent, created by God This is not inconsistent with our faith because we can not put limits on the creative freedom of God In the words of St. Francis, if we consider the earthly creatures as "brother" and "sister", because we could not speak of a 'brother extraterrestrial'? Would however also part of creation.

And what about redemption?

Borrowing the gospel image of the lost sheep. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine in the fold to look for one that has been lost. We think that in this universe can be a hundred sheep, corresponding to different forms of creatures. We who belong to the human race could be just the lost sheep, the sinners that need the shepherd. God became man in Jesus to save us. Thus, even if there were other intelligent beings, it is said that they should have need of redemption. Could have remained full in friendship with their Creator.

I insist: if it were sinners, could be a redemption for them?

Jesus has been incarnated once and for all. The incarnation is a unique and unrepeatable. However I am sure that they, somehow, would have the option of enjoying the mercy of God as it was for us men.

Next year we are celebrating the bicentenary of Darwin's birth and the Church back to confront evolutionism. Astronomy can contribute to this confrontation?

As an astronomer I can say that the observation of stars and galaxies there emerges a clear evolutionary process. This is a scientific fact. Even here I see no contradiction between what we can learn evolution - provided an ideology does not become absolute - and our faith in God there are some fundamental truths that still do not change: God is the creator, there is a sense to creation, we are not children of the case.

On this basis, it is possible a dialogue with men of science?

I would say that it is indeed necessary. Faith and science are not irreconcilable. He said John Paul II and Benedict XVI has repeated it: faith and reason are the two wings with which elevates the human spirit. There is no contradiction between what we know through faith and what we learn through science. There may be tensions or conflicts, but we should not be afraid. The Church should not fear science and its discoveries.

As was the case with Galileo.

That is certainly a case that has marked the history of the Church community and the scientific community. It is useless to deny that the conflict there was. Perhaps in future there will be more similar. But I think it's time to turn the page and look to the future instead. This incident has left some wounds. There have been misunderstandings. The church has somehow recognized its mistakes. Maybe you could do better. But now it's time to heal these wounds. And what can be achieved in an environment of calm dialogue and collaboration. People need that science and faith to help each other, without betraying the clarity and honesty of their positions.

But because today is so hard this collaboration?

I think one of the problems of the relationship between science and faith is ignorance. On the one hand, scientists should learn to correctly read the Bible and to understand the truths of our faith. Second, theologians and churchmen should update on the progress of science, to be able to give effective responses to the questions it raises continuously. Unfortunately, even in schools and parishes lack a path that helps to integrate faith and science. Catholics are often left without the knowledge learned at the time of the catechism. I think this is a real challenge from the pastoral point of view.

What can be done in this regard, the Observatory?

John XXIII said that our mission must be to explain to astronomers, the Church and the Church astronomy. We are like a bridge, a small bridge between the world of science and the Church. Along this bridge there are those who go in one direction and those who go in another. As recommended by Benedict XVI to us Jesuits at the last general congregation, we must be men on the frontiers. I believe that the Observatory has this mission: to be on the frontier between the world of science and the world of faith, to give testimony that it is possible to believe in God and being good scientists.