杏MAP导航

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Fifty-six years after Apollo 11 landed on the moon, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV spoke Sunday evening with astronaut Buzz Aldrin, reported the Holy See Press Office on Telegram.

NASA launched Apollo 11, the first manned mission to land on the Moon, on 16 July 1969. On 20 July, Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon, and Buzz Aldrin, also on the spaceship, became the second.

In the statement, the Press Office continued, "He shared with him the memory of a historic achievement—a testimony to human ingenuity—and, using the words of Psalm 8, together they reflected on the mystery of Creation, its greatness, and its fragility."

Before ending the call, 杏MAP导航 Leo blessed the astronaut, his family, and his collaborators. 

Following the conversation, Buzz Aldrin wrote on social media, "Anca and I were grateful and touched to receive the highest blessing from His Holiness, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV on the 56th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.  What an honor! We prayed for good health, long life, and prosperity for all humankind. #杏MAP导航LeoXIV."

For the anniversary of the 1969 moon landing, after the 杏MAP导航 recited the midday Angelus, he had visited the telescopes and instruments in the Domes of the Vatican Observatory at Castel Gandolfo.

The same day, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, informed journalists that 杏MAP导航 Leo, rather than returning, as initially planned, on Sunday to the Vatican, would stay until Tuesday in Castel Gandolfo, and return to the Vatican that evening.