Leo XIV calls Buzz Aldrin to mark the anniversary of the Moon landing

Pope Leo XIV called astronaut Buzz Aldrin on Sunday (20) and visited the Vatican's astronomical observatory in Castel Gandolfo to mark the 56th anniversary of the first time a man set foot on the Moon.

“Tonight, 56 years after the Apollo 11 moon landing, I spoke with astronaut Buzz Aldrin,” the American pope wrote on the social network X.

“Together we share the memory of a historic feat, a testament to human ingenuity, and reflect on the mystery and grandeur of Creation,” he wrote.

After Neil Armstrong, who passed away in 2012, Aldrin was the second person to set foot on the Moon, on the historic Apollo 11 mission that put the United States at the forefront of the space race.

Aldrin, a devout Christian, took communion on the lunar surface using a travel kit given to him by his Presbyterian pastor.

The pope said he blessed the 95-year-old American astronaut during the call.

Leo XIV also visited the Vatican Observatory, located on a hill near the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo.

Vatican photos show the pope looking through a telescope at the observatory, one of the world's oldest astronomical research institutions, where scientists combine the study of the stars with theology.