Hello to the Heavens: Pope Francis Phones the Space Station
Hello to the Heavens: Pope Francis Phones the Space Station
Pope Francis made a phone call to
the International Space Station today (Oct. 26) to ask
its six occupants deep questions about humanity's place in the universe.
the International Space Station today (Oct. 26) to ask
its six occupants deep questions about humanity's place in the universe.
Calling from
the Vatican in Rome, Pope Francis spoke with Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli of
the European Space Agency along with three NASA astronauts and two Russian
cosmonauts.
the Vatican in Rome, Pope Francis spoke with Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli of
the European Space Agency along with three NASA astronauts and two Russian
cosmonauts.
Pope Francis skipped the small talk and dove straight into the
big questions. "As you're contemplating the undoubted limits of the
universe, it makes us think about where we come from and where we're
going," he said. "In light of your experiences in space, what are
your thoughts regarding the place of man in the universe?"
big questions. "As you're contemplating the undoubted limits of the
universe, it makes us think about where we come from and where we're
going," he said. "In light of your experiences in space, what are
your thoughts regarding the place of man in the universe?"
"Holy
Father, this is a complex question," Nespoli replied in Italian as NASA TV
provided an English translation. "I feel like a technical person — an
engineer — and I'm here among experiments, machinery and equipment. When we
speak of these much more internal questions of where we come from, I remain rather
perplexed. I think that our objective here is that of knowing our being and to
fill our knowledge to understand what's around us," he said. "But on
the other hand, an interesting thing is that the more we know, the more we
realize how little we know."
Father, this is a complex question," Nespoli replied in Italian as NASA TV
provided an English translation. "I feel like a technical person — an
engineer — and I'm here among experiments, machinery and equipment. When we
speak of these much more internal questions of where we come from, I remain rather
perplexed. I think that our objective here is that of knowing our being and to
fill our knowledge to understand what's around us," he said. "But on
the other hand, an interesting thing is that the more we know, the more we
realize how little we know."
Pope
Francis then pointed out a painting in the room where he was speaking thatis
based on the "Divine Comedy," a narrative poem written by the Italian
poet Dante Alighieri in the 14th century. That poem refers to love as a force
"which moves the sun and the other stars." With that in mind, Pope
Francis asked the crew, "What do you think about referring to love as the
force that moves the universe?"
Francis then pointed out a painting in the room where he was speaking thatis
based on the "Divine Comedy," a narrative poem written by the Italian
poet Dante Alighieri in the 14th century. That poem refers to love as a force
"which moves the sun and the other stars." With that in mind, Pope
Francis asked the crew, "What do you think about referring to love as the
force that moves the universe?"
This
question resonated with Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, who replied by
telling the Pope about an audiobook he recently listened to called "The
Little Prince." In the story, a young boy is ready to give up his life to
care for the person who was closest to him. "The best example of what is
love is perhaps what is shown in this book," Misurkin said through a
translator.
question resonated with Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, who replied by
telling the Pope about an audiobook he recently listened to called "The
Little Prince." In the story, a young boy is ready to give up his life to
care for the person who was closest to him. "The best example of what is
love is perhaps what is shown in this book," Misurkin said through a
translator.
Comments
Post a Comment