The Vatican said asteroid 858334 now bears the name Gioacchinopecci, after the Italian pontiff born Gioacchino Pecci, who led the Roman Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903.
Leo XIII wrote the Church's first social encyclical and is remembered as the "Pope of the Workers"; Pope Leo XIV has also invoked that legacy during his first year.
The asteroid was discovered by Lithuanian astronomer Kazimieras Černis and Vatican Observatory astronomer Father Richard P. Boyle. Other popes honoured in space include Benedict XVI and Gregory XIII.
How does naming an asteroid after Leo XIII reflect both the Church’s scientific engagement and the controversies around his social teachings?
What lessons might today’s social activists and scientists draw from the complex legacy of Leo XIII and the Vatican Observatory?
Could Pope Leo XIV’s forthcoming encyclical on AI mark a turning point in how the Church addresses technology and social justice?