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Hindustan Times
02-08-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Indian priest Richard D'Souza appointed director of Vatican Observatory
Indian Catholic priest Richard D'Souza has been appointed as the new director of the Vatican Observatory. The newly elected Pope Leo XIV confirmed his appointment on Thursday evening. Fr D'Souza, who has a doctorate in astronomy and who has been a staff member at the Observatory since 2016. (MLA Delilah Lobo | X account) D'Souza, 47, a Jesuit priest who hails from Goa and who holds a doctorate in Astronomy will succeed the existing head of one of the world's oldest astronomical observatories, will succeed incumbent Guy Consolmagno, when his term ends on September 15. 'I am very honoured to be appointed by Pope Leo XIV as the next Director of the Vatican Observatory,' D'Souza said in a comment to HT. Also Read:Pope to bestow one of Catholic Church's highest honors on John Henry Newman 'On one hand, I am aware of the many high-profile Jesuits who have held this position in the past and have paved the way for the Observatory's success today: I am truly standing on the shoulders of giants. On the other hand, I understand the great responsibility entrusted to me of guiding the Vatican Observatory at this critical time, so that the Specola continues to serve the Pope and the Universal Church, promoting the dialogue between faith and science, through solid scientific research,' he said. D'Souza who hails from Mapusa in Goa a Bachelor's degree in Physics at St Xavier's College Mumbai, a Master in Physics at the University of Heidelberg, Germany where he worked at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg for his thesis work; a doctorate in astronomy with research done at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Garching, Munich, concentrating on the formation and evolution of galaxies and a post-doctoral programme at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, US. He is a member of the International Astronomical Union and has recently had an asteroid named after him. 'I am delighted that His Holiness has chosen Fr. D'Souza to be the next director of the Vatican Observatory. I know that Fr. D'Souza has the vision and wisdom to carry the Observatory forward during this time of rapid change in astronomical research, especially given his experience with space telescopes and advanced computational techniques,' incumbent Consolmagno said. Back in Goa Richard's parents Mary and Joseph expressed their 'happiness and gratitude' at the opportunity he has been entrusted with to serve in his mission. 'As a child he was always curious and showed interest in the scientific side of things and we are happy and grateful that he has been entrusted with this responsibility that allows him to serve both his mission and the pursuit of science,' the family stated. The Vatican Observatory is one of the oldest astronomical observatories in the world. It was founded in 1891, by Pope Leo XIII. D'Souza has been a staff member of the Vatican Observatory since 2016 and has held the role of the Superior of the Jesuit community of the Vatican Observatory since 2022. In 2018, he along with researchers working at the Vatican Observatory found conclusive evidence of a long lost galaxy the third biggest after Andromeda and the Milky Way, named 32p that was 'shredded and cannibalised' by the Milky Way's galactic neighbour Andromeda about two billion years ago. This disrupted galaxy was the third-largest member of the local group of galaxies, after the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies. Using computer models, D'Souza and Bell were able to piece together this evidence, revealing this long-lost sibling. Their findings were published in Nature Astronomy in July 2018. His research focuses on the phenomenon of galaxy merging and its effects on the present day properties of galaxies like the Milky Way. He has published in numerous international scientific journals and is a member of several international collaborations.
Mint
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Pope Francis passes away: Who are the four Indian cardinals eligible to participate in Papal conclave
Pope Francis's relationship with India reflected both aspirations and obstacles. Despite his strong desire, he was never able to visit the country. Nonetheless, he made a significant gesture toward the Indian Catholic community by recently appointing an Indian priest serving in the Vatican as a Cardinal — a moment of pride for many. Francis, the first non-European Pope in almost 1,300 years, passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88. He had been diagnosed with double pneumonia prior to his death. Among the six Indian cardinals eligible to vote in the upcoming conclave, four prominent figures stand out. They include Filipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Daman; Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in Kerala; George Koovakkad, the former head of the Journeys Office at the Vatican's Secretariat of State; and Anthony Poola, Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad and the first Dalit Christian to be appointed as an archbishop. Pope Francis, the first non-European Pope in almost 1,300 years, passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88. Following the death of the Pope, the Vatican will enter a nine-day mourning period known as the Novendiale, an ancient Roman tradition that continues to this day. During this time, preparations will begin for the election of the next Pontiff. After the mourning period, the Cardinals will be called into Conclave to elect the next Vicar of Christ. The Pope passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, according to a statement from the Vatican. Following the death of the Pope, the Vatican will enter a nine-day mourning period known as the Novendiale, an ancient Roman tradition that continues to this day. During this time, preparations will begin for the election of the next Pontiff. After the mourning period, the Cardinals will be called into Conclave to elect the next Vicar of Christ. (With inputs from agencies) Key Takeaways Pope Francis's death marks a pivotal moment for the Catholic Church globally. Four Indian cardinals are poised to influence the selection of the next Pope. The Vatican will observe a nine-day mourning period before the conclave begins.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cathedral requires extensive repairs, council told
An 1830s church, designated as a cathedral by the Pope, is in need of extensive repairs after becoming riddled with wet rot, a report has said. Following an inspection at St Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Preston, documents submitted to the city's council revealed that the building's drainage system had "failed significantly". They also said rot had "taken hold" of the vestry roof after decades of water seepage and gutter failure at the Grade II-listed place of worship in Meadow Street. Plans have been outlined for gutter and floor replacement work at the cathedral, which is also known as St. Ignatius Church, as well as roof and stonework repairs. An initial assessment found entire roof timbers in some parts of the building were "saturated and decayed with wet rot". The church was part of the Diocese of Lancaster until 2014, when it briefly closed after the congregation declined. It reopened the following year to serve local Roman Catholics from the Indian Syro-Malabar community. Pope Francis designated it as a new cathedral in 2016. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Pope creates Indian Catholic cathedral
