Vatican says aliens could exist

Father Funes says the universe is so vast that other life forms may exist
The Pope's chief astronomer says that life on Mars cannot be ruled out.
Writing in the Vatican newspaper

the astronomer

Father Gabriel Funes

said intelligent beings created by God could exist in outer space.
Father Funes

director of the Vatican Observatory near Rome

is a respected scientist who collaborates with universities around the world.
The search for forms of extraterrestrial life

he says

does not contradict belief in God.
The official Vatican newspaper headlines his article 'Aliens Are My Brother'.
'Free from sin'
Just as there are multiple forms of life on earth

so there could exist intelligent beings in outer space created by God. And some aliens could even be free from original sin

he speculates.
Asked about the Catholic Church's condemnation four centuries ago of the Italian astronomer and physicist

Galileo

Father Funes diplomatically says mistakes were made

but it is time to turn the page and look towards the future. Science and religion need each other

and many astronomers believe in God

he assures readers. To strengthen its scientific credentials

the Vatican is organising a conference next year to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the author of the Origin of Species

Charles Darwin.