When Religion and Science Collide: Pope Francis Meets Stephen Hawking

The influential Catholic figure praised the eminent physicist-atheist at a conference of Pontifical Academy of Sciences in Rome.

Pope Francis and Stephen Hawking were brought together on the occasion of "Science and Sustainability: Impacts of Scientific Knowledge and Technology on Human Society and its Environment" conference held on November 25-29 in Rome.

* EN: There are also many encouraging signs of a humanity that wants to respond, to choose the common good, and regenerate itself with responsibility and solidarity. * PT: Existem inúmeros sinais encorajadores de uma humanidade que quer reagir, escolher o bem comum e regenerar-se com responsabilidade e solidariedade. * ES: Hay muchos signos positivos de una humanidad que quiere reaccionar, escoger el bien común, regenerarse con responsabilidad y solidaridad. * ITA: Ci sono tanti segni incoraggianti di un’'umanità che vuole reagire, scegliere il bene comune, rigenerarsi con responsabilità e solidarietà. * FR: Il y a tant de signes encourageants d’une humanité qui veut réagir, choisir le bien commun, se régénérer avec responsabilité et solidarité. * DE: Es gibt viele ermutigende Anzeichen dafür, dass die Menschheit reagieren will; dass sie sich für das gemeinsame Wohl entscheiden möchte, um in Verantwortung und Solidarität wieder gesund werden zu können.

Фото опубликовано Pope Francis (@franciscus) Ноя 29 2016 в 6:21 PST

The smiling pontiff warmly greeted the theoretical physicist and praised him for his outstanding work. A picture of their meeting was published on the Pope's Instagram on November 30.

Hawking who openly declares himself an atheist has been a member of the Academy since 1986. Thus, Pope Francis became the fourth pontiff after Popes Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI to meet the famous scientist.

Addressing the members of the Vatican's Pontifical Academy of Sciences at the conference, Pope stressed their role in finding creative solutions to the world's problems is more urgent than ever and glorified the increasing collaboration between scientific and religious communities. Dr. Hawking gave a presentation on his No-Boundary Proposal on the beginning of the universe on November 26.