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Around 19 miles south of St. Peter’s Square, nestled in the quiet Alban hills overlooking a lake of the same name, sits the Vatican Observatory. Located in the former papal summer residence, a good distance away from Rome’s daily rush, this more than 440-year-old research center hosts a staff of scientist priests, four historic telescopes, a meteorite collection, and more.
Every two years since 1986, the Observatory also welcomes 25 budding astronomers from all over the world. These university students take part in the center’s summer school, which held its 18th edition from June 4-30, 2023, after a five-year-suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications for the 2025 program are now being accepted.
Aleteia spoke to the Observatory’s director and the school’s participants last summer to find out what brings them together in their search for the “truth” about the universe.
“[The summer school] communicates to the scientific and astronomical world how much joy there is to do science for the love of truth, rather than just trying to promote your own agenda or career. […] We do this for the love of truth, which to a Catholic like me means love of the One who is truth,” said Brother Guy Consolmagno, an American Jesuit and director of the Vatican Observatory.
“The Church supports science. One of the ways it does so is by doing the science, but also science is more than just coming up with the answers, it is about passing them on to other people,” he explained. “Some of the best conversations come when you’ve got young people asking the questions, forcing you to confront the assumptions you have made.”
The 2023 summer school was focused on an important trending topic: how to use data science tools and machine learning for astronomical research and surveys. As new telescopes, such as the James Webb Space telescope, provide scientists with unprecedented amounts of data on the universe, learning how to “sift through” it is crucial, explains Brother Consolmagno. The summer school in fact attracted 200 applicants, of which 25 were then chosen.
Coming together for the “sheer joy” of exploring what is unknown
Brother Consolmagno explained that there is no religious prerequisite to apply and attend the Vatican Observatory’s summer school and there is no “religious proselytizing,” as the faculty and students are of many different faiths. “What we hope happens because we are in a religious institution, is that students will become more comfortable with their own religion, their own culture, that they won’t see this as something they will have to set aside or even to be ashamed of,” he explained.
Ashod Khederlarian, a 25-year-old Lebanese student doing a doctorate degree in the United States, explained in fact that one of the reasons he applied to the summer school was to “explore the relationship between the Church, religion, and science.” He was brought up in the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church and became less practicing as he grew older.
“I have discovered and realized the importance of religion in society today. I didn’t appreciate that as a teenager and now I do, and I think this school was a nice opportunity to explore that,” Khederlarian said.
Brother Consolmagno highlighted that what he believes differentiates the Vatican Observatory from other schools is “that we are very overt about why we do astronomy. It is not to prove the existence of God — I wouldn’t trust any God that could be proved by my poor science,” he added smiling.
“It’s to explore together for the sheer joy of knowing that there are things that we have yet to learn. […] It is this community of people who are joined together in their common love of the universe […], that is why we have a school and why we do astronomy,” Brother Consolmagno continued.
“I wouldn’t trust any God that could be proved by my poor science.”
Seeking the truth
“I am not religious but in science you are seeking truth. […] We have different religions here, people from different places and cultures and they all are looking for the same thing: We want to understand the world. I think that is what unites us,” said Rodrigo Flores de Freitas, a 27-year-old doctorate student from Brazil.
He highlighted however that he appreciated the Church’s historic involvement in science, as the Vatican Observatory’s roots can be traced back to 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII decided to reform the Julian calendar, resulting in the Gregorian calendar used today.
“I am not religious but there are many astronomers and physicists who were. It is interesting to be in the same place where important scientists have been,” Flores de Freitas said, as he stood in a room surrounded by historic astronomy tools, meteorites and depictions of popes who have supported the Observatory.
“Never lose this sense of wonder”
In 2023, the summer school’s participants were unable to meet the Pontiff as they usually do, as Pope Francis was in the hospital recovering from a surgery for an intestinal hernia. However, he still wrote a message to the participants on June 15, in which he strongly encouraged them to “be surprised by new and unforeseen discoveries” and to “never lose this sense of wonder, in your research and in your lives.”
“May you be inspired always by the love for truth and awestruck by all that each fragment of the universe sets before you,” Francis wrote.
“I think that is great advice because the main drive for science is curiosity and wondering about something. Finding something new is like energy for scientists,” said Ildana Izmailova, a 23-year-old student from Kazakhstan. She explained that she felt this feeling of wonder in a discussion with her colleagues on the possibility of white dwarf stars sustaining life.
“The most essential thing that a scientist has to be able to say is, ‘I don’t know,’” Brother Consolmagno said. “If you’re thinking you know it all then you have no room to learn anything new. That is the exact opposite of science, it is the opposite of faith too, it’s the opposite of love. You love someone because you realize there is always more to learn about that person. […] It is the humility of being able to say I don’t know the universe, I want to know more. […] It is an act of love with the universe.”
“If you’re thinking you know it all then you have no room to learn anything new. That is the exact opposite of science, it is the opposite of faith too, it’s the opposite of love. You love someone because you realize there is always more to learn about that person …”
Being part of an international community
The summer school tries to create an international environment and in fact has a policy that only two candidates can be chosen from the same country. They also try to ensure that two-thirds of the students come from the developing world, including from nations where astronomy is still an emerging field. In 2023, there were 20 nations were represented.
Izmailova decided to apply after being encouraged by her university supervisor in her home country.
“Science is not really popular in Kazakhstan, so there aren’t that many scientists and only one university where you can study to be an astronomer. People are starting to respect science more now,” she explained. “I think I can be an example for other students so that they can apply to other countries and have the opportunity to be in an international community. I think this is good for science in Kazakhstan.”
In fact, Brother Consolmagno said many students from the developing world who attend their program either end up working in astronomy in the West, and thus become role models for the next generation, or return to their countries and encourage other students to apply.
Showing students they can be part of this scientific community gives them “the courage to say what other things can I change? What other things can I develop in my country?” Brother Consolmagno explained. “It is essential to development but it is also essential to what it means to be a creature of God. […] Wondering about the universe is feeding our souls because we don’t live by bread alone. If you are denying someone the chance to feed their souls because they were born in the wrong country or economic group, you’re denying them their humanity.”
The cost of attending
The Observatory in fact covers 75% of the cost of attendance. Previously it was the Vatican that offered this financial support. However, for this edition of the summer school, donors in the United States raised the funds necessary through the Vatican Observatory’s Arizona-based foundation. Participants are then encouraged to find ways to finance the remaining 25%. “That is to make sure that the community you’re coming from is aware of what you are doing and happy to support you,” Brother Consolmagno said.
During the summer school “I have met people from 20 different countries, so I learned a lot about different ways to see the world. I will bring that [back home with me],” Flores de Freitas said.
[Reporting by Isabella H. de Carvalho, photography and video by Antoine Mekary, video editing by John Touhey.]
Learn about the summer school and apply here.
And today we celebrate...