The BBC reports on one little-known but long-term papal pursuit:
For the second time in seven years the Vatican is hosting a scientific conference for astronomers.
More than 200 scientists from 26 countries including the
United States, Britain, Italy, Germany, Russia, and Japan have gathered
in Rome for a five-day meeting on disc galaxies. . . .
Father Jose Funes, the head of the Vatican Observatory,
said exciting new discoveries have been made with the help of space
telescopes since the Holy See's last meeting on galaxies in 2000.
"Disc galaxies are a hot topic," he said. . . .
What could be called the Vatican's first scientific
astronomical observatory was finally set up in 1789 in a building which
still exists near the Apostolic Palace, called the Tower of the Winds.
The Holy See's observatory is now located near Tucson -- light pollution having moved it out of Rome long ago -- and features the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope. Photo © 2002-2007 Scott Reynen