Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno, who is the new president of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, said news of such a discovery won't come as a big surprise.

Br Consolmagno said he hopes the questions about life on other planets will focus more on how humanity sees itself.

"When we say human, human as compared to what?" he asked.

While the discovery of life elsewhere will neither prove nor disprove the existence of God, Br Consolmagno expects it will open the door to ponder what form salvation history may take in other intelligent societies.

He addresses such questions in a new book, "Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial? . . . and Other Strange Questions From the Inbox at the Vatican Observatory", set to be published in October.

He said there is no conflict between science and religion.

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Br Guy Consolmagno was given the award by The American Astronomical Society's (AAS) Division for Planetary Sciences.

The AAS praised Br Consolmagno for becoming "the voice of the juxtaposition of planetary science and astronomy with Christian belief".

It also praised him as a "rational spokesperson who can convey exceptionally well how religion and science can co-exist for believers".

Br Consolmagno is known for his media work, including his BBC radio show "A Brief History of the End of Everything".

He believes that Catholic scientists should not hesitate to share their love of science with their communities.

"Show them that our religion does not tell us what 'facts' we can believe, but rather our religion gives us the reason why we go looking to try to understand those facts," he said.

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