The Vatican believes finding alien life would have no impact on the teachings of the Bible

THE Catholic Church says we might be edging closer to finding proof of life somewhere in the universe. But does this mean there is a Jesus 2.0?

Father José Gabriel Funes likes to find the balance between science and the Catholic Church.

ON a leafy hilltop in the Italian town of Castel Gandolfo, an Argentinian Jesuit named Father José Gabriel Funes runs the Vatican’s robust astronomy program.

Working out of one of the oldest astronomical research institutions in the world, Fr. Funes has long been open to the prospect of discovering extraterrestrial life.

And following discoveries such as Earth 2.0, he believes we might be edging closer to finding proof of life somewhere in the universe.

“It is probable there was life and perhaps a form of intelligent life,” he told AFP.

However, he believes it is unlikely we will ever get to meet such life forms.

“I don’t think we’ll ever meet a Mr Spock.”

Fr. Funes said if the unlikely event of meeting an alien were to occur, it would have little impact on the Vatican’s beliefs.

“If there was intelligent life (on another planet), I don’t see that as a contradiction with the Christian faith,” he said.

“The Bible is not a scientific book.

“If we look for scientific responses to our questions in the Bible, we are making a mistake.”

Fr. Funes added the Bible would not be rewritten to reflect the findings if they occurred.

“The discovery of intelligent life does not mean there’s another Jesus,” he said.

“The incarnation of the son of God is a unique event in the history of humanity, of the Universe.”

While Fr. Fumes wouldn’t say whether the Vatican would consider trying to convert aliens to Catholicism, one of his colleagues suggests otherwise.

Guy Consolmagno said he would be delighted to baptise an alien if they asked him.

“Any entity — no matter how many tentacles it has — has a soul,” he told the Guardian.