Vatican says aliens could exist
By David Willey
BBC News, Rome

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'.

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That is surprising to hear them say that but if we are here on our planet, I am sure there are other forms of life on other planets too.

(My sister in law is going to Italy to study at the Vatican for a few months! Just thought that was neat!)

Some are proclaiming that this is one of the signs that first contact is about to be made.

The Vatican is being proactive because quite a few religions will have a lot of 'splainin to do if it is made clear to all that there is intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe.

Oh i didn't hear about that one. Interesting!!

I wonder what the Vatican will say if someday we do have extreme proof of alien life with a mass close encounter--will they try to find out if the Son of God became incarnate in the history of other Worlds?

It will be very interesting to see how they will attempt to resolve many of the statements indicating that "man" is the only creature of interest created.

Very interesting.

Wow this well be very interesting to see what happens in the years to come...