The Vatican has named Fr. Richard D’Souza, a 47-year-old Jesuit priest from Goa and accomplished astronomer, as the new Director of the Vatican Observatory, one of the oldest astronomical institutions in the world.
The appointment, confirmed by Pope Leo XIV on Thursday evening, will take effect on September 15, when D’Souza succeeds the current director, Brother Guy Consolmagno.
“I am very honoured to be appointed by Pope Leo XIV as the next Director of the Vatican Observatory. I stand on the shoulders of giants who have served before me and understand the responsibility to guide the Observatory in promoting dialogue between faith and science,” D’Souza told Hindustan Times.
Academic and Research Journey
Born in Mapusa, Goa, D’Souza completed his BSc in Physics at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, before earning a Master’s degree at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. He conducted thesis work at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy and earned a PhD in Astronomy from the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Munich, focusing on galaxy formation and evolution. He later pursued post-doctoral research at the University of Michigan, USA.
A staff member at the Vatican Observatory since 2016, D’Souza has served as the Superior of the Jesuit community at the Observatory since 2022. In 2018, he co-authored a landmark study identifying a long-lost galaxy — once the third-largest in the Local Group — that was “shredded” by the Andromeda galaxy two billion years ago.
His work on galaxy mergers, stellar populations, and cosmological simulations has been widely published in international journals. An asteroid has also been named in his honour.
Global and Local Reactions
Outgoing director Consolmagno praised the choice, saying D’Souza’s expertise in space telescopes and computational techniques will guide the Observatory through a rapidly evolving era in astronomy.
D’Souza’s parents, Mary and Joseph, expressed pride:
“As a child he was always curious about science. We are happy he has been entrusted with a role that allows him to serve both his mission and scientific pursuits.”
About the Vatican Observatory
Founded in 1891 by Pope Leo XIII, the Vatican Observatory — also known as the Specola Vaticana — is dedicated to astronomical research and promoting dialogue between science and faith.
