Fr Richard Anthony D’Souza, S.J., has been appointed as the new Director of the Vatican Observatory by Pope Leo XIV. Fr D’Souza, who has a doctorate in astronomy, has been a staff member at the Observatory since 2016. He succeeds Br Guy Consolmagno, S.J., whose 10-year mandate concludes in September 2025. Br Consolmagno will continue as a staff astronomer and President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation. The appointment confirms the succession process initiated before the death of Pope Francis.
5 months ago
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Fr. Richard Anthony D’Souza, S.J., as the new Director of the Vatican Observatory 1. This appointment confirms a succession process that was underway even before the death of Pope Francis 1. Fr. D’Souza will officially take over from Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J., whose ten-year mandate concludes on September 19, 2025 1.
Fr. Richard D’Souza, born in Goa, India, in 1978, entered the Society of Jesus in 1996 and was ordained a priest in 2011 1. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Physics, a Master's in Physics from the University of Heidelberg, and a doctorate in astronomy from the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, specializing in galaxy formation and evolution 1. He also completed a post-doctoral program at the University of Michigan 1. Fr. D’Souza has been a staff member of the Vatican Observatory since 2016 and has served as the Superior of its Jesuit community since 2022 1. His research focuses on galaxy merging and its impact on galaxy properties, and he is a published author in international scientific journals, with an asteroid recently named after him 1.
Br. Guy Consolmagno expressed his delight at the Pope's choice, highlighting Fr. D’Souza's vision, wisdom, and experience with space telescopes and advanced computational techniques as crucial for the Observatory's future 1. Fr. D’Souza, in turn, commended Br. Consolmagno's decade-long dedication to fostering dialogue between science and faith, promoting scientific dissemination, and advancing international astronomical research 1. Following the end of his directorship, Br. Consolmagno will continue his work as a staff astronomer at the Vatican Observatory and will maintain his role as President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation in Tucson, Arizona 1.
The Vatican Observatory, established in its current form in 1891 by Pope Leo XIII, has a foundational mission to demonstrate the Church's support for "true and solid science" 1. Today, Jesuit astronomers at the Observatory continue this mission by studying diverse fields, including stars, meteorites, galaxies, cosmology, and the origins of the Universe 1. The Observatory serves as a crucial point for dialogue among science, theology, and the rich tradition of the Church, seeking to understand the cosmos and the potential for life beyond Earth 1.
What is the Church's role in scientific inquiry?
The Catholic Church views scientific inquiry as a valuable endeavor that can lead to a deeper understanding of the universe and, by extension, of God, the Creator . The Church's role in scientific inquiry is not to dictate scientific findings or methods, but rather to foster a constructive dialogue between faith and science, encourage the pursuit of truth, and provide a framework that recognizes the spiritual dimension of humanity and the ultimate source of all truth .
The Church's engagement with scientific inquiry can be understood through several key aspects:
The Church encourages scientists to persevere in their search for truth, emphasizing that truth should never be feared and that new scientific discoveries should be welcomed with humility . Both reason and faith are seen as deriving from the same divine source of all truth, implying that genuine scientific investigation will not ultimately conflict with faith .
Historically, there have been periods of misunderstanding between the Church and the scientific community. However, the Church now seeks a fruitful dialogue where science and faith are partners in the common quest for a more perfect understanding of the universe . This dialogue is considered urgent and promising, especially as scientific advancements raise questions that overlap with metaphysics and theology . The Church believes that when the distinction between the orders of knowledge (science and faith) is respected, and both proceed with their proper methodological principles, contradictory results will not be reached .
The Church holds a profound esteem for scientific knowledge and recognizes its immense value to humanity . Scientific progress, particularly in understanding the macro- and microcosms, is seen as a significant advancement in human knowledge . The Pontifical Academy of Sciences, for instance, serves to provide the Holy See with up-to-date scientific findings, contributing to a better understanding between science and faith .
The Church teaches that the existence and intelligibility of the universe are not a result of chaos or chance, but of God's Wisdom . Scientists, in observing the constant laws and intelligibility of nature, are led to admit the existence of an all-powerful Reason, which is God, who sustains the world . This perspective provides a meeting point between the natural sciences and religion, where science can become a place of dialogue between humanity, nature, and potentially, the Creator .
The Church emphasizes the clear methodological distinction between the fields of science and theology, a distinction present even in the thought of Saint Thomas Aquinas . This distinction avoids a "short-circuiting" that would be harmful to both science and faith, allowing each discipline to operate within its own competence while still being integrated in a holistic understanding of reality .
The Church advocates for an interdisciplinary approach that allows for a unitive vision, where scientific knowledge, philosophy, and theology can exchange their respective competencies to present effective results to people . Questions about the universe's immensity, origins, and end require more than just scientific answers; philosophy and theology play crucial roles in exploring the meaning and purpose of creation .
In summary, the Church's role in scientific inquiry is to support and encourage the pursuit of knowledge, facilitate a harmonious dialogue between faith and reason, and remind humanity that scientific discoveries, while valuable in themselves, can also lead to a deeper appreciation of God's creative power and wisdom .