• A Conversation with Fr. Richard Anthony D’Souza, Director of the Vatican Observatory, on the 2026 Program

    Scientific priorities

    Completing the robotization process of the VATT (Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope) on Mount Graham in Arizona. Finishing the 3D scanning and documentation of the approximately 1,200 meteorites preserved in the laboratory and, in the observatory at Castel Gandolfo, introducing the first GPUs (Graphic Processing Units) to enhance computational capabilities and the theoretical program, also through a new series of theoretical seminars on physics. These are the priorities indicated for 2026 by its Director, Jesuit Fr. Richard Anthony D’Souza for the Vatican Observatory in this interview for the Governorate’s website www.vaticanstate.va.

  • Interview with Bro. Guy Consolmagno, past Director of the Vatican Observatory

    In astronomy, beauty and joy meet: the signs of the presence of God. Knowing what beauty and joy mean allows you to recognize them even in prayer and thus understand what to look for in science. This was stated by the Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno, former Director of the Vatican Observatory, from 2015 to September 19th 2025, in this interview with www.vaticanstate.va.

  • Interview with the new Director of the Vatican Observatory, Father Richard D’Souza, S.J.

    Not only science but qualified research at the service of the Church

    On Thursday morning, July 31, the liturgical memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Pope Leo XIV appointed Father Richard Anthony D’Souza, S.J. as new Director of the Vatican Observatory. Fr. D'Souza has been serving at the Observatory as an astronomer for many years and he will begin his new role as Director on September 19, 2025.