Even if intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe, it is unlikely a second Jesus was sent to save them, a Vatican astronomer says.
Astronomers at the Vatican Observatory in Rome have said discoveries of new Earth-like planets have strengthened their belief that there could be life elsewhere in the universe.
Fr Jose Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory in Rome, said it was unlikely humankind may ever get to meet any alien civilisations.
He said: “It is probably there was life and perhaps a form of intelligent life . . . I don’t think we’ll ever meet a Mr Spock.”
“The discovery of intelligent life does not mean there’s another Jesus. The Incarnation of the son of God is a unique event in the history of humanity of the universe.”
His comments came in the wake of NASA’s discovery of an Earth-like planet – dubbed Kepler 452b – which is 1400 light years away from Earth.
Fr Funes described the discovery as “great news”.
Writing in the L’Osservatore Romano he said: “Our galaxy contains more than a hundred billion stars.
“’Considering the number of exo-planets discovered, it seems that the vast majority of stars in our galaxy, at least potentially, can have planets where life could develop.
“Although we do not know for sure whether the phenomenon of ‘land’ is rare or common.”
He said that if there is intelligent life found on another planet, he does not see it as a contradiction of the Christian faith.
He said: “The Bible is not a scientific book. If we look for scientific responses to our questions in the Bible, we are making a mistake.”
“It answers great questions, like “what is our role in the universe?”‘
Sources
- Daily Mail
- Image: Irish Times