Pope's Exchange With Space Station Astronauts

Introduction

Dear astronauts,

I am very happy to have this extraordinary opportunity to converse with you
during your mission. I am especially grateful to be able to speak to so many of
you, as both crews are present on the Space Station at this time.
Humanity is experiencing a period of extremely rapid progress in the fields of
scientific knowledge and technical applications. In a sense, you are our
representatives – spear-heading humanity’s exploration of new spaces and
possibilities for our future, going beyond the limitations of our everyday
existence.

We all admire your courage, as well as the discipline and commitment with which
you prepared yourselves for this mission. We are convinced you are inspired by
noble ideals and that you intend placing the results of your research and
endeavours at the disposal of all humanity and for the common good.
This conversation gives me the chance to express my own admiration and
appreciation to you and to all those who collaborate in making your mission
possible, and to add my heartfelt encouragement to bring it to a safe and
successful conclusion.

But this is a conversation, so I must not be the only one doing the talking. I
am very curious to hear you tell me about your experiences and your
reflections. If you don’t mind, I would like to ask you a few questions…

First Question
From the Space Station you have a very different view of the Earth. You fly
over different continents and nations several times a day. I think it must be
obvious to you how we all live together on one Earth and how absurd it is that
we fight and kill each other. I know that Mark Kelly’s wife was a victim of a
serious attack and I hope her health continues to improve. When you are
contemplating the Earth from up there, do you ever wonder about the way nations
and people live together down here, or about how science can contribute to the
cause of peace?

Mark Kelly, USA
Well, thank you for the kind words, Your Holiness, and thank you for mentioning
my wife Gabby. It’s a very good question: we fly over most of the world and you
don’t see borders, but at the same time we realize that people fight with each
other and there is a lot of violence in this world and it’s really an
unfortunate thing. Usually, people fight over many different things. As we’ve
seen in the Middle East right now: it’s somewhat for democracy in certain
areas, but usually people fight for resources. And it’s interesting in space …
on Earth, people often fight for energy; in space we use solar power and we
have fuel cells on the Space Station. You know, the science and the technology
that we put into the Space Station to develop a solar power capability, gives
us pretty much an unlimited amount of energy. And if those technologies could
be adapted more on Earth, we could possibly reduce some of that violence.

Second Question
One of the themes I often return to in my discourses concerns the
responsibility we all have towards the future of our planet. I recall the
serious risks facing the environment and the survival of future generations.
Scientists tell us we have to be careful and from an ethical point of view we
must develop our consciences as well.
From your extraordinary observation point, how do you see the situation on
Earth?

Do you see signs or phenomena to which we need to be more attentive?

Ron Garan, USA
Well, Your Holiness, it’s a great honour to speak with you and you’re right: it
really is an extraordinary vantage point we have up here. On the one hand, we
can see how indescribably beautiful the planet that we have been given is; but
on the other hand, we can really clearly see how fragile it is. Just the
atmosphere, for instance: the atmosphere when viewed from space is paper-thin,
and to think that this paper-thin layer is all that separates every living
thing from the vacuum of space and is all that protects us, is really a
sobering thought.

You know, it seems to us that it’s just incredible to view
the Earth hanging in the blackness of space and to think that we are all on
this together, riding through this beautiful fragile oasis through the
universe, it really fills us with a lot of hope to think that all of us on
board this incredible orbiting Space Station that was built by the many nations
of our international partnership, to accomplish this tremendous feat in orbit,
I think … you know, that just shows that by working together and by cooperating
we can overcome many of the problems that face our planet, we could solve many
of the challenges that face the inhabitants of our planet … it really is a
wonderful place to live and work, and it’s a wonderful place to view our
beautiful Earth.

Third Question
The experience you are having right now is both extraordinary and very
important – even if you must eventually come back down to Earth like all the
rest of us.
When you do return, you will be much admired and treated like heroes who speak
and act with authority. You will be asked to talk about your experiences. What
will be the most important messages you would like to convey – to young people
especially – who will live in a world strongly influenced by your experiences
and discoveries?

Mike Finchke, USA
Your Holiness, as my colleagues have indicated, we can look down and see our
beautiful planet Earth that God has made, and it is the most beautiful planet
in the whole Solar System. However, if we look up, we can see the rest of the
universe, and the rest of the Universe is out there for us to go explore. And
the International Space Station is just one symbol, one example of what human
beings can do when we work together constructively. So our message, I think -
one of our many messages, but I think one of our most important messages – is
to let the children of the planet know, the young people know that there is a
whole universe for us to go explore. And when we do it together, there is
nothing that we cannot accomplish.

Fourth Question
Space exploration is a fascinating scientific adventure. I know that you have
been installing new equipment to further scientific research and the study of
radiation coming from outer space. But I think it is also an adventure of the
human spirit, a powerful stimulus to reflect on the origins and on the destiny
of the universe and humanity. Believers often look up at the limitless heavens
and, meditating on the Creator of it all, they are struck by the mystery of His
greatness. That is why the medal I gave Robert (Vittori) as a sign of my own
participation in your mission, represents the Creation of Man – as painted by
Michelangelo on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. In the midst of your intense work
and research, do you ever stop and reflect like this – perhaps even to say a
prayer to the Creator? Or will it be easier for you to think about these things
once you have returned to Earth?

Roberto Vittori, Italia
Your Holiness, to live on board of the International Space Station, to work as
an astronaut on the shuttle Soyuz of the Station, is extremely intense. But we
all have an opportunity, when the nights come, to look down on Earth: our
planet, the blue planet, is beautiful. Blue is the colour of our planet, blue
is the colour of the sky, blue is also the colour of the Italian Air Force, the
organization that gave me the opportunity to then join the Italian Space Agency
and the European Space Agency. When we have a moment to look down, beauty which
is the three-dimensional effect of the beauty of the planet is capturing our
heart, is capturing my heart. And I do pray: I do pray for me, for our
families, for our future. I took with me the coin and I allow this coin to
float in front of me to demonstrate lack of gravity. I shall thank you very
much for this opportunity and I’d like to allow this coin to float to my friend
and colleague Paolo: he will make return to Earth on the Soyuz. I brought it
with me to space and he will take it down to Earth to then give it back to you.

Fifth Question – in Italian – for Paolo Nespoli
La mia ultima domanda è per Paolo. Caro Paolo, so che nei giorni scorsi la tua
mamma ti ha lasciato e quando fra pochi giorni tornerai a casa non la troverai
più ad aspettarti. Tutti ti siamo stati vicini, anche io ho pregato per
lei…Come hai vissuto questo tempo di dolore? Nella vostra Stazione vi sentite
lontani e isolati e soffrite un senso di separazione, o vi sentite uniti fra
voi e inseriti in una comunità che vi accompagna con attenzione e affetto?

Paolo Nespoli, Italia
Santo Padre, ho sentito le sue preghiere, le vostre preghiere arrivare fino qua
su: è vero, siamo fuori da questo mondo, orbitiamo intorno alla Terra ed
abbiamo un punto di vantaggio per guardare la Terra e per sentire tutto quello
che ci sta attorno. I miei colleghi qui, a bordo della Stazione – Dimitri,
Kelly, Ron, Alexander e Andrei – mi sono stati vicini in questo momento
importante per me, molto intenso, così come i miei fratelli, le mie sorelle, le
mie zie, i miei cugini, i miei parenti sono stati vicini a mia madre negli
ultimi momenti. Sono grato di tutto questo. Mi sono sentito lontano ma anche
molto vicino, e sicuramente il pensiero di sentire tutti voi vicino a me, uniti
in questo momento, è stato di estremo sollievo. Ringrazio anche l’Agenzia
spaziale europea e l’Agenzia spaziale americana che hanno messo a disposizione
le risorse affinché io abbia potuto parlare con lei negli ultimi momenti.

Final greeting

Dear astronauts,
I thank you warmly for this wonderful opportunity to meet and dialogue with
you. You have helped me and many other people to reflect together on important
issues that regard the future of humanity. I wish you the very best for your
work and for the success of your great mission at the service of science,
international collaboration, authentic progress, and for peace in the world. I
will continue to follow you in my thoughts and prayers and I willingly impart
my Apostolic Blessing.

Filed under benedict xvi, nasa, space station

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