Fr Richard D’Souza, S.J., Appointed New Director of Vatican Observatory

Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has appointed Fr. Richard Anthony D’Souza, S.J., as the new Director of the Vatican Observatory, succeeding Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J., whose 10-year term concludes on 19 September 2025.

The announcement was made on Thursday by the Vatican Governorate, which confirmed that Pope Leo XIV’s appointment continues the succession process initiated prior to the death of Pope Francis. Fr. D’Souza, an accomplished astronomer with a doctorate in astronomy, has been part of the Observatory’s staff since 2016.

Br Consolmagno welcomed the appointment, stating, “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.”

In response, Fr. D’Souza praised his predecessor, noting, “During his ten years of leadership, Br. Consolmagno has distinguished himself for his dedication to dialogue between science and faith, to scientific dissemination, and the promotion of astronomical research at the international level.”

Following the completion of his term as Director, Br. Consolmagno will continue as a staff astronomer at the Vatican Observatory and remain President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, based in Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Background on Fr. Richard D’Souza

Born in 1978 in Goa, India, Fr. D’Souza entered the Society of Jesus in 1996 and was ordained a priest in 2011. He studied philosophy and theology at Jnana Deepa, Pune, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics.

He earned his Master’s in Physics from the University of Heidelberg, Germany, where he worked at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy. He completed his doctorate in astronomy at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Garching, Munich, focusing on the formation and evolution of galaxies, and later pursued post-doctoral research at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.

Fr. D’Souza, who has been Superior of the Jesuit community at the Vatican Observatory since 2022, specialises in galaxy mergers and their effects on galactic structure. He has published extensively in international scientific journals and is a member of the International Astronomical Union. Recently, an asteroid was named in his honour.

The Vatican Observatory

Founded in 1891 by Pope Leo XIII, the Vatican Observatory is among the oldest astronomical institutions in the world. Its mission, outlined in the Motu Proprio Ut Mysticam, is to demonstrate that the Church fully embraces and promotes both human and divine science.

Today, the Observatory’s Jesuit astronomers continue this mission, engaging in research that spans stars, meteorites, galaxies, cosmology, and the early universe, while fostering dialogue between science, theology, and the Church’s intellectual tradition.

Courtesy: Vatican News

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