Opinion: the Vatican's belief in UFOs.

My first reaction was one of surprise, or maybe shock would be a more appropriate word. The Catholic Church, which usually takes centuries to change its mind about anything, says that flying saucers are probably a reality. What could have caused this amazing pronouncement?

The chief spokesman for the new openness of the Vatican toward the probable reality of UFO phenomena is an insider by the name of Corrado Balducci. Monsignor Balducci, a senior Catholic theologian and a member of the Curia, has spoken on Italian State TV several times, citing his belief that life exists on other planets. Monsignor Balducci has served as a diplomat and a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. He is the author of several books and a friend of Pope Benedict.

Monsignor refers to the thousands of people all over the world who claim to have seen UFOs. Even if some cases were caused by imagination, hallucinations or atmospheric phenomena, many others cannot be explained. He reminds us that the Christian religion too, is based on eyewitness accounts of remarkable incidents. If we, as Christians, accept the human accounts of miracles in the Gospels, we should have confidence in the many reliable and competent witnesses to UFO sightings.

Monsignor believes that the extraterrestrials are not angels. Angels are pure spirit. They can project themselves wherever they wish. They don't need spaceships.

Neither are they devils or fallen angels. The demons have retained their angelic natures and can also travel at will. God limits their activity, otherwise they would have destroyed us long ago. St Augustine wrote, "If the devil would take the initiative, not a single living being would remain on Earth.". (ML37,1246).

It is likely that the visitors are humanoid beings composed of matter and spirit. Their bodies, though different from ours, still need vehicles for travel. They are probably more evolved intellectually, since they are capable of modes of space travel which far exceed our present capabilities.

The universe is vast and beautiful. The Hubble telescope has given us only a glimpse of the vast glory of the stars, planets, and galaxies which surround our small world. Is it not the height of arrogance to think that we are the only manifestations of God's infinite creative ability?

Our first parents, by succumbing to Satan's temptation, doomed us to a life of toil, suffering and death. Is it not possible that there are races elsewhere who did not fall prey to his seducement? What great heights of achievement might they not have reached?

Whatever the origins of the extraterrestrials, they are created beings as are we. It is certain that Christ is still the center and head of the universe and all creation.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers- all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things and in him all things hold together.
Col. 1: 15-17

Padre Pio (1887-1968) is a modern-day saint who is credited with many cures and who received the stigmata. He was canonized on June 16, 2002, by Pope John Paul II. When asked about the existence of extraterrestrials, he replied, " The Lord certainly did not limit his glory to this small Earth. On other planets other beings exist who did not sin and fall as we did."

Far be it from me to argue with Padre Pio.