Indian Jesuit Named New Director of Vatican Observatory

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Father Richard Anthony D’Souza, SJ, an Indian Jesuit and astronomer, as the new director of the Vatican Observatory, one of the world’s oldest astronomical research institutions.

The Holy See Press Office announced the appointment on July 31, confirming that Father D’Souza will officially assume his new role on September 19. He succeeds Brother Guy J. Consolmagno, SJ, who has led the observatory since 2015. Consolmagno’s 10-year term ends next month, though he will remain on the observatory’s staff as an astronomer.

The National Catholic Register reports that Father D’Souza has been associated with the Vatican Observatory since 2016, contributing to both its research and educational initiatives. A specialist in the formation and evolution of galaxies, D’Souza also serves as superior of the Jesuit community attached to the observatory, which is located in Castel Gandolfo, just outside Rome.

Born in Goa, India, in 1978, D’Souza entered the Society of Jesus in 1996 and was ordained to the priesthood in 2011 after studying at the Jnana Deepa Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Pune. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from St. Xavier’s College, University of Mumbai, in 2002, followed by a master’s degree from the University of Heidelberg in Germany in 2005. He completed his Ph.D. in astronomy at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich in 2016.

According to the Vatican Observatory’s website, Father D’Souza’s work focuses on galactic structure and dynamics, often using computer simulations to model how galaxies form and interact.

As the National Catholic Register notes, the Vatican Observatory has a long and rich history. It traces its origins back to 1579, when Pope Gregory XIII, famous for commissioning the Gregorian calendar, established an observatory staffed by Jesuits. The current observatory in Castel Gandolfo was authorized by Pope Leo XIII in 1891 through the motu proprio Ut Mysticam, with the aim of promoting scientific learning within the Church.

Father D’Souza’s appointment continues the tradition of Jesuit leadership at the Vatican Observatory and reflects the Church’s ongoing commitment to integrating faith and science. His international academic background and research experience are expected to bring new energy to the observatory’s mission of scientific inquiry and interfaith dialogue.

In its coverage, the National Catholic Register praised D’Souza’s appointment as a recognition of both scientific excellence and the global character of the Church’s mission in the sciences.