Vatican Observatory Foundation

The Vatican Observatory Foundation (VOF) brings together scientists, philanthropists and the Catholic Church to facilitate and promote scientific research of the heavens through support of the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope and educational initiatives around the world.

“The Vatican Observatory, both in history and mission, is one of the most extraordinary (and little known) scientific institutions in the world. Often portrayed as opposing science and the exploration of the universe’s mysteries, the Church has quietly been in the forefront of research and discovery for centuries.”

Fr. Albert J. DiUlio, S.J. President, Vatican Observatory Foundation
The story begins in 1582 with Pope Gregory XIII, and the establishment of a committee to study the science involved in reforming the Julian calendar, which contained a tiny error that had thrown off the entire system of calculating the year. Astronomical observations were key in correcting the mistake, and since that time, the Papacy has supported its own research of the heavens, building the Observatory of the Roman College, the Observatory on the Capitoline Hill, and the Specola Vaticana (the Vatican Observatory), as well as other pontifical observatories around Rome.

This work done at these institutions, diligently pursued century after century by Jesuit scholars, culminated in the achievement of Father Angelo Secchi, at the Roman College, the most prolific of those who first classified stars according to the spectra. For all groundbreaking accomplishments, Father Secchi is known as the “Father of Modern Astrophysics.”

The unification of Italy in 1870 led to the pontifical observatories becoming the property of the state. Nevertheless, the Vatican continued to support astronomical research. In fact, to combat the accusation that a conflict existed between the Church and science, Pope Leo formally refounded the Specola Vaticana in 1891.

As Rome grew, the city lights began to blot out the night sky and stars. In 1935, Pope Pius XI moved the Observatory to the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, a town in the Alban Hills some 25 kilometers from Rome. The Vatican Observatory meteorite collection, one of the most valuable in the world, remains housed in Castel Gandolfo.

Eventually, even that site was not far enough from urban light pollution, and in 1980 the Vatican set up a new division of the Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, called the Vatican Observatory Research Group, which works in league with the world-renowned Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona.

In 1987, Roger Angel and colleagues at the Steward Observatory developed the technology to build a significantly more powerful imaging telescope. In collaboration with the Steward Observatory, the Vatican Observatory raised funds from private, philanthropic sources, and built the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT), placed on Mt. Graham outside Tucson. To garner the money necessary for this considerable effort, the Vatican Observatory Foundation was organized, and continues to raise money to promote scientific research in Tucson and educational initiatives around the world.

What is the relationship of the Vatican Observatory to the Vatican?
The Vatican has had a longstanding interest in the heavens dating back centuries, due to the use of astronomical study to determine the calendar dates for Easter and other holy days of the Christian year. In support of this astronomical study, the Vatican established the Vatican Observatory and has actively supported the astronomy and mathematics conducted there. For example, the modern calendar – the so-called Gregorian calendar – was developed at the Vatican Observatory from astronomical data. The support of the Vatican has continued for four centuries, and the work of the Vatican Observatory has been expanded to include the work of many gifted scientists and astronomical observations conducted from world-class facilities.

What is the purpose of the Vatican Observatory Foundation program?
To generate revenue in support of the Vatican Observatory to foster its mission of scientific education, research and discovery. Since the Vatican Observatory’s founding in the 16th century, its astronomers, mathematicians and physicists have been responsible for major scientific breakthroughs in astronomy, astrophysics, mathematics and the study of the physical origin of the Universe. This work is expensive and revered, and the proceeds of the Vatican Observatory
Foundation program will be used by the Vatican Observatory for scientific education, research and discovery.