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Pope ‘would possibly tackle first contact with aliens’ as Vatican will really feel ‘shockwaves’

Ufo expert Mark Christopher Lee says he has been given “rare access” to the Vatican’s secret archives and is probing historical references that could shed light on human contact with alien life

A British filmmaker says the Vatican may be preparing for the possibility of an alien invasion – and the Pope might address “first contact” with extraterrestrials in the new year.

Ufologist Mark Christopher Lee says he has been given “rare access” to the Vatican’s secret archives and is probing historical references to unexplained phenomena that could shed light on human contact with alien life.

And he believes the Catholic Church is already thinking about the theological and spiritual implications of an alien discovery.

Lee said: “I’ve been given rare access to the Vatican’s secret archives. I’ll be looking for any historical references to unexplained phenomena, spiritual encounters, or anything that could shed light on humanity’s possible contact with intelligent life beyond Earth.

“If we are close to confirming intelligent life beyond Earth, no institution will feel the shockwaves more than the Catholic Church.

“The new Pope could become the first spiritual leader in history to address First Contact — and I intend to find out how prepared the Church really is.”

He asked: “Could the Church have been quietly preparing for this moment all along — and what might the new Pope reveal when the truth is finally confronted?”

In his new film God Vs Aliens, Lee says he believes UFO sightings and paranormal phenomena are linked and argues the Church may be far more open-minded to the possibility of aliens than many people assume.

Lee added: “Faith and prophecy have always guided humanity. Now, with UFO disclosure and global interest at an all-time high, these forces are converging in a way that has never happened before. 2026 could be the year everything changes.”

Vatican astronomers have previously argued the existence of extraterrestrial life would not contradict belief in God. Father Gabriel Funes said in 2008 intelligent beings created by God could exist in outer space.

Writing in the Vatican newspaper, he said: “Just as there is a multiplicity of creatures over the earth, so there could be other beings, even intelligent (beings), created by God.

“This is not in contradiction with our faith, because we cannot establish limits to God’s creative freedom.

“To say it with St. Francis, if we can consider some earthly creatures as ‘brothers’ or ‘sisters’, why could we not speak of a ‘brother alien’? He would also belong to the creation.”

And earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV’s newly appointed astronomer said he would baptise an alien, calling extraterrestrials “children of God.”

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Father Richard D’Souza, who now leads the Vatican Observatory near Rome, said theology would have to “reimagine itself” if humans ever make contact with intelligent life.

He said: “They are all part of God’s creation. the question would be how to reach them or how they would reach us.”

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