Fifty-six years after the Apollo 11 moon landing, Pope Leo XIV and astronaut Buzz Aldrin shared a moment of gratitude and wonder during a videoconference call on Sunday evening, as reported by Deborah Castellano Lubov for Vatican News.
The conversation, steeped in reflection on human achievement and divine mystery, served as both commemoration and call to contemplation.
According to the Holy See Press Office, the Holy Father recalled the “testimony to human ingenuity” that the 1969 mission represents.
Quoting Psalm 8 — “When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you arranged…” — the two men reflected together on the grandeur and fragility of Creation.
Aldrin, born in 1930, is now 95 years old.
Before ending the call, Pope Leo offered his blessing to Aldrin, his family, and his collaborators.
“Anca and I were grateful and touched to receive the highest blessing from His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV on the 56th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing,” Aldrin shared on social media shortly after the call. “What an honor! We prayed for good health, long life, and prosperity for all humankind. #PopeLeoXIV.”
Aldrin is Presbyterian and took time during his moon walk to read Scripture. He radioed Earth: "I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours, and to give thanks in his or her own way."
The Holy Father's social media accounts also shared news of his phone call with Aldrin.
Seeing the stars
Earlier that day, Pope Leo had visited the Vatican Observatory’s historic telescopes at Castel Gandolfo, where he is on summer break.
As Castellano Lubov notes, the Pope’s visit to the observatory underscored the Church’s enduring commitment to scientific exploration guided by reverence for the Creator.
Founded in the 16th century and now staffed by Jesuit astronomers, the Vatican Observatory has long stood as a bridge between science and faith.
Pope Leo’s visit included conversations with researchers and a quiet moment among instruments used to study galaxies, nebulae, and the same moon Aldrin once walked upon.
In a statement to reporters, Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office, confirmed that Pope Leo will remain at Castel Gandolfo through Tuesday evening, extending his retreat to allow for rest and study.
The Apollo 11 anniversary, often celebrated with flag-waving and patriotic fervor, was instead marked by Pope Leo in a spirit of humility. “It reminds us that our place in the cosmos is not one of dominance,” he said, “but of wonder, responsibility, and care.”
As the Pontiff follows his predecessors’ initiatives on environmental stewardship and interfaith dialogue, the conversation with Aldrin fits within a broader vision: one in which science is not a threat to faith, but its partner.
