An image from the James Webb Space Telescope shows a landscape of mountains and valleys which is the edge of a nearby, young star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula

POPE

Pope tells young astronomers to never lose ‘sense of wonder’

In a message addressed to participants in the Vatican Observatory’s Summer School of Astrophysics, the Pope reflects on new scientific tools that reveal new astronomical discoveries and invites them to always be inspired by the love for truth.

By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis has sent a message of greetings to this year’s participants in the Vatican Observatory Summer School inviting them to never lose the sense of wonder, in their research and in their lives, as they continue to observe the universe with increasingly sophisticated tools.

The Pope, who penned his message during his convalescence last week in the Gemelli Hospital where he underwent abdominal surgery, took the occasion to thank “Specola Vaticana” faculty members who are guiding the participants in this experience.

The summer school in Castel Gandolfo, which is back after a five-year hiatus due in part to the Covid-19 pandemic, was established in 1986 for young astronomers and has always enjoyed the support of the Popes.

This 18th Summer School will feature the concepts of Big Data and Machine Learning, and provide students with hands-on data analysis experience that they can use with their own projects.

Noting how new scientific tools such as the new James Webb space telescope offers astrophysicists the possibility to make new discoveries, we expect, he said “to see how the universe continues to expand and change before our eyes.”

“Above all, we are struck by the vastness of the universe, its enormous extent and the astonishing number of galaxies, stars and planets that have been identified.”

Recalling how over 2,000 years ago the Psalmist wrote, “When I see the heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and the stars which you arranged, what is man that you should keep him in mind, mortal man that you care for him?” (Ps 8:5), the Pope commented on how “the immensity of the universe has always been a source of wonder for humanity.”

“As young scholars at the dawn of the 21st century, you seek in the course of this Summer School to grasp something of that vast expanse and to develop methods capable of better digesting and understanding the constant flow of new data,” he wrote.

Specola Vaticana Summer School

Tools and wisdom

Noting how the acquisition of tools helps scientists understand the universe, the Holy Father highlighted how they are insufficient if used without wisdom and expertise.

“In science and in philosophy alike, we can be tempted to obtain only those responses that we already expected, and not to let ourselves be surprised by new and unforeseen discoveries,” the Pope continued.

“My hope is that you will not remain content with the results of your research until you have also had the experience of being surprised.”

And he invited the young astronomers who observe reality “through the window of astronomy,” not to neglect the other windows that can reveal “other important realities, like compassion and love, realities that you are no doubt encountering also in the friendships that you are forming in these days.”

Sense of wonder

“Perhaps the most amazing thing about this universe is that it contains creatures like us, men and women who possess the ability to observe it with wonder and to “interrogate” it,” he wrote.

Quoting the Psalmist who poses the question “What is man that you should keep him in mind, mortal man that you care for him”, and immediately goes on to say, “Yet you have made him little less than a God; with glory and honor you crowned him” (Ps 8:5-6), the Pope encouraged the scientists to “never lose this sense of wonder, in your research and in your lives.”