Vatican Observatory Telescope in Arizona Goes Remote, Expanding Access to Jesuit Students Worldwide

Vatican automates Arizona telescope, enabling remote research access for Jesuit students and astronomers from Castel Gandolfo.

Newsroom (22/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) A significant technological shift is reshaping how the Vatican conducts astronomical research, as the Holy See’s advanced telescope in Arizona has been successfully automated, allowing it to be operated remotely from across the globe. The development opens new pathways for scientific collaboration, particularly for students at Jesuit universities who previously lacked access to high-level observational tools.

The Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT), located on Mount Graham in Arizona, is among the most important instruments managed by the Vatican Observatory, known formally as the Specola Vaticana. With the completion of its new automation system, astronomers are no longer required to travel to the remote mountain site to conduct observations. Instead, they can now control the telescope remotely, a capability already being utilized by researchers based at the Vatican observatory in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.

According to a statement from the Governorate of Vatican City State, the automation project was made possible through philanthropic support. Major contributions came from the Thomas Lord Charitable Trust, alongside additional donations from Kim Bepler, a supporter of Jesuit initiatives and a member of the board of trustees at Fordham University. The system itself has been named “Don” in honor of Donald Alstadt, a prominent figure in philanthropy recognized for advancing scientific research through the same charitable trust.

The origins of the project trace back to a meeting held in January between Bepler, Father Richard D’Souza, director of the Vatican Observatory, and Brother Guy Consolmagno, president of the Vatican Observatory Foundation. Their shared objective was to create a program that would connect the VATT in Arizona with Castel Gandolfo and extend its use to Jesuit universities worldwide—especially institutions without direct access to advanced research telescopes.

To initiate the effort, Bepler made a significant contribution in honor of Father Joseph M. McShane, president emeritus of Fordham University and a member of the Vatican Observatory Foundation’s development committee. The funding helped accelerate the development of the automation system, which now stands as a bridge between institutions, continents, and generations of researchers.

Beyond its technical achievements, the project reflects a deeper historical continuity within the Catholic Church’s engagement with science. In 1891, Pope Leo XIII formally established the modern Vatican Observatory through his motu proprio Ut Mysticam, declaring that the Church supports “good and solid science” to the fullest extent. That same year, he issued Rerum Novarum, a landmark encyclical addressing workers’ rights amid the upheavals of industrialization, underscoring his broader commitment to navigating the intersection of tradition and modernity.

Leo XIII’s scientific legacy extends even into modern astronomy. His contributions to the re-establishment and reform of the Vatican Observatory have been recognized by the International Astronomical Union, which named the minor planet (858334) Gioacchinopecci after him. The designation honors his interest in science and his encouragement of astronomical initiatives such as the Carte du Ciel project.

Today, the automation of the VATT stands as a contemporary expression of that same vision. By removing physical barriers to participation, the Vatican Observatory is enabling a wider community of scholars and students to engage directly with the cosmos—continuing a tradition that views scientific inquiry not as separate from faith, but as one of its natural extensions.

• Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA

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