Pope Leo XIV has marked the 56th anniversary of man’s arrival on the moon Sunday with a visit to the Vatican astronomical observatory in Castel Gandolfo and a call to astronaut Buzz Aldrin

Pope Leo XIV visited the Vatican Observatory. He commemorated the 1969 moon landing. He observed the Sea of Tranquility. The Holy See Press Office shared the news. Images of the Pope went viral. Netizens commented on his interest.

After praying the Sunday Angelus at his summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, Leo headed to the astronomical observatory located in the Pontifical Villas, where he took a close look at the telescopes that have supported celestial exploration from a faith-based perspective for decades.