The Pope Accept That There Could be Life on Other Planets

We are all God's creatures ... even life on other planets, according to the Vatican.
Pope Benedict XVI's official astronomer, Father Jose Funes said that the possibility of life on other planets could not be ignored.
Father Funes has been head of the Vatican's Observatory for two years after the Pope sacked Father George Coyne when the disagreed about the theory of evolution.

Father Funes gave an interview with the Vatican's official newspaper L'Osservatore Romano headlined:"ET is my brother."
When asked about life on other galaxies Father Funes said:" In my opinion this possibility exists.
"Astronomers believe that the universe is formed of hundreds of millions of galaxies and in these are hundreds of millions of stars.
"Many of these or all of them could contain planets. So how can we exclude that developed life cannot be elsewhere?
"It's possible to believe in God and extra terrestrials without bringing into question our own faith.

"There is a branch of astronomy, astro biology, that looks specifically at this question and has made significant advances in recent years.
"Numerous creatures exist on the earth, similarly intelligent life created by God could exist elsewhere
One of God's creatures? If there is life on other planets they are part of God's plan.

"This cannot contradict with our faith because we cannot put limits on the creativity of God.
"St Francis spoke of brother earth and sister earth so why cannot we speak of brother extra terrestrial?
"It would all still be part of Creation."
Father Funes added:" If this intelligent life does exist it is possible that they may well not need redemption (saving) that could well be at one with their Creator."

When asked what if ET was a sinner Father Junes replied: "Christ died once and for all for our sins. It was once and unrepeatable so I'm sure that they will have God's mercy as well as Man."

Pope Benedict favors intelligent design, which advances the view that God directs the process of evolution, over Charles Darwin's original theory, which holds that species evolve through the random, unplanned processes and survival of the fittest.