The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, announced today the appointment of Fr. Richard Anthony D'Souza, S.J., as the new Director of the Vatican Observatory. He succeeds Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J, whose mandate of 10 years will expire on September 19, 2025. With this appointment, Pope Leo XIV has confirmed the succession process that had been underway before the death of Pope Francis.

Sr. Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, has appointed the members of the Commission on Artificial Intelligence. The five members include officials from the Legal Office, from the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, and from the Directorate of Security and Civil Protection Services, in accordance with the Guidelines on Artificial Intelligence that took effect on 1 January 2025, with the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State’s Decree No. DCCII. The appointment is a step forward in the implementation of the prescribed norms.

Un passo avanti per l’impianto agrivoltaico a Santa Maria di Galeria

Il Senato della Repubblica Italiana, mercoledì 7 gennaio, ha approvato il disegno di legge riguardante la ratifica ed esecuzione dell'Accordo tra l’Italia e la Santa Sede per un impianto agrivoltaico a Santa Maria di Galeria, fatto a Roma il 31 luglio 2025.

A step forward for the agrivoltaic plant in Santa Maria di Galeria

On Wednesday, 7 January, the Senate of the Italian Republic approved the bill concerning the ratification and implementation of the Agreement between Italy and the Holy See for an agrivoltaic plant in Santa Maria di Galeria, signed in Rome on 31 July 2025.

Per la prima volta, in quasi novanta anni dalla loro costruzione, le cupole astronomiche del Palazzo Pontificio di Castel Gandolfo aprono le porte ai visitatori. Si tratta di due osservatori astronomici perfettamente funzionanti della Specola Vaticana: la “cupola maggiore” dal diametro di 8,5 metri, dotata di Telescopio Visuale, per l’osservazione delle stelle e dei pianeti; e la “cupola minore”, dal diametro di 8 metri, con il Doppio Astrografo,utilizzato per i rilievi fotografici del cielo e della posizione degli astri.

The Holy Mass, celebrated on Thursday morning, May 22, in the Vatican City industrial area, was an invitation to hope and to express heartfelt thanks for the immense work, successfully concluded, after the passing of Pope Francis, the subsequent Conclave and the election of Pope Leo XIV. These were addressed by Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, to the entire staff of employees, technicians and workers of the Vatican Directorate of Infrastructure and Services.

“Tonight too, we are gathered in prayer for the Holy Father and his intentions, in particular for peace and good in the world and for the sanctification of the Church”, said Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, as he presided over the Rosary for Pope Francis in Saint Peter’s Square, on Saturday morning, 15 March.

Kindness, harmony, simplicity 

Kindness, harmony, simplicity: three qualities to adopt according to Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State in his homily for the Holy Mass, celebrated at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday morning, April 16, for the employees of the Governorate and the Holy See in preparation for Easter.

Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, presided over Holy Mass in memory of the faithful departed of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Services. The rite was celebrated on Monday morning, 10 November, in the Chapel of Saint Egidio, located within the premises of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

Everyone is called to become an agent of Peace and Reconciliation

For the first time, three States have joined together for a common numismatic issue. This is the collaboration behind the triptych of coins dedicated to the Canticle of the Creatures, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. The initiative, included in the official calendar of Franciscan celebrations, was presented in Assisi on Thursday morning, May 14, in the Cimabue Hall of the “Colle del Paradiso” Conference Center within the monumental complex of the Sacred Convent of Saint Francis.

La Specola Vaticana è lieta di annunciare che quattro asteroidi sono stati intitolati a importanti figure nella storia dell’Osservatorio, tra cui Papa Leone XIII, che rifondò la Specola nel 1891.

The Vatican Observatory is pleased to report that four asteroids have been named for important figures in the history of the Observatory, including Pope Leo XIII, who re-founded the Observatory in 1891.

Reflecting the Light of the One Who Gives

Storing up treasures in heaven — that is, by giving — in such a way as to reflect light and not the darkness that saddens.
This was the message of Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General, as he presided over the Eucharistic concelebration on the morning of Friday, June 20, at the Pontifical Parish of Saint Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo.

In Mary is our destiny

“When in this life we ‘choose life’ (cf. Dt 30:19), then in Mary, assumed into Heaven, we have reason to see our destiny. She is given to us as the sign that the Resurrection of Jesus was not an isolated event, an exception. All of us, in Christ, can swallow up death (cf. 1 Cor 15:54).” Thus spoke Pope Leo XIV during the concelebrated Eucharist in the Pontifical Parish of St. Thomas of Villanova (Castel Gandolfo) on Friday morning, August 15, on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“Three Saturday Evenings Dedicated to Women” is the initiative taking place in Turin, at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, on the Saturdays leading up to the feast of Pentecost on May 24.

Leadership Oriented Toward Supporting Integral Human Development

Five significant dimensions of “women in Christian religious life today” — presence, formation, diversity, complexity, and service — were illustrated by Sr. Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, during a lecture at the Dominican Philosophical Institute of Bologna on Friday morning, October 24.

A Series of Lectures on Vatican City State Law

A series of lectures on Vatican City State Law, promoted by the Pontifical Lateran University’s Faculty of Civil Law and coordinated by Professor Carni, is scheduled to begin on 24 February. During the course, several law professors and legal experts will deliver lectures. Professor Carni will deliver the first lecture, which will be an introduction to the history of Vatican Law.

A service for the good of the Church

A service carried out above all “behind the scenes,” and a task that “builds security, order, respect,” considering that “it is not just a profession: it is a service for the good of the Church.” Thus spoke Pope Leo XIV, addressing the members of the Vatican City State Gendarmerie Corps during the Eucharistic Concelebration, presided at the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens on Sunday afternoon, October 5, on the feast of their Patron, Saint Michael the Archangel.

A prayer for the sick and those who care for them

“Today, on this day dedicated to the sick, we wish to pray in communion with all those who suffer throughout the world. We pray for you. I sincerely thank you for making the effort to come and to accompany us in this moment of prayer, here before our Mother Mary, on her liturgical memorial, Our Lady of Lourdes.” These were the words of Pope Leo XIV, spoken in front of the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens on Wednesday morning, 11 February, after the General Audience.

“The AI and the Future of Work” was the theme of the international conference held on Tuesday morning, May 5, at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.