Pope Leo XIV offered words of encouragement and reflection to young scientists gathered for the Vatican Observatory’s Summer School, highlighting the sense of wonder that astronomy evokes—especially in light of the breathtaking images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
“Surely, this must be an exciting time to be an astronomer,” the Pope said, according to Vatican News, as he addressed participants in this year’s program, titled Exploring the Universe with the James Webb Space Telescope. He called the telescope “truly remarkable,” noting that it allows scientists to study “the atmosphere of exoplanets, the nebulae where planetary systems form, and even ‘the ancient light of distant galaxies, which speaks of the very beginning of our universe.’”
The Pope linked this scientific pursuit to a deeper human experience. He reflected on how the authors of Sacred Scripture contemplated creation with “their poetic and religious imagination,” while today, astronomers continue that tradition using new tools. Images from the JWST, he said, “fill us with wonder, and indeed a mysterious joy,” as we consider “the sublime beauty” of the stars.
Pope Leo expressed gratitude to the JWST team for sharing their findings publicly and emphasized the value of the training students would receive to engage with such powerful instruments. “The knowledge and training that participants in the Summer School will receive [helps them] make use of this amazing instrument,” he said.
He also reminded the scientists that their work is not isolated. They are part of a broader community that includes other experts, family, and friends—“a larger community… that allows them to be a part of this wonderful enterprise.”
Encouraging openness, the Holy Father invited the students to share what they learn and experience with others. “Do not hesitate to share the joy and the amazement born of your contemplation of the ‘seeds’ that, in the words of Saint Augustine, God has sown in the harmony of the universe,” he said.
He concluded with a simple but profound insight: “The more joy you share, the more joy you create.”
Through this message, Pope Leo XIV affirmed that scientific discovery, rooted in wonder and shared generously, becomes a reflection of God’s beauty in creation.
