Pope Speaks With Lone Surviving Apollo 11 Astronaut on Anniversary of First Moon Landing |

Pope Leo XIV Commemorates Apollo 11 with Buzz Aldrin on Historic Anniversary

In a moment that mingled history with celestial wonder, Pope Leo XIV connected with Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin on Sunday, celebrating the 56th anniversary of humanity’s first steps on the moon, which occurred on July 20, 1969. This unparalleled achievement remains unmatched for over half a century, a testament to American ingenuity and ambition.

Pope Leo XIV holds the distinction of being the first American pope, while Aldrin stands as the last living member of the Apollo 11 crew, which achieved the monumental task of landing on the lunar surface. Alongside Neil Armstrong, Aldrin ventured into the unknown, collecting samples, planting the American flag, and even engaging in a historic phone call with President Richard Nixon, all while Michael Collins orbited the moon aboard the command module.

Neil Armstrong, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 82, famously declared as he stepped onto the lunar surface, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Michael Collins followed him into eternity in 2021 at the age of 90, leaving Aldrin, now 95, as the sole survivor of that historic mission.

Reflecting on their conversation, Pope Leo XIV remarked, “This evening, 56 years after the Apollo 11 moon landing, I spoke with astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Together we shared the memory of a historic feat, a testimony to human ingenuity, and we reflected on the mystery and greatness of Creation.”

This evening, 56 years after the Apollo 11 moon landing, I spoke with the astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Together we shared the memory of a historic feat, a testimony to human ingenuity, and we reflected on the mystery and greatness of Creation.

— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) July 20, 2025

According to Vatican News Service, the apparent video call featured Aldrin alongside his wife, Anca Faur, and conveyed a heartfelt message of reflection and blessing:

56 years after the Apollo 11 moon landing, #PapaLeoneXIV spoke this evening with astronaut Buzz Aldrin. With him, he shared the memory of a historic achievement, a testament to human ingenuity.

With the words of Psalm 8, they meditated together on the mystery of Creation, its greatness, and its fragility. Before the end of the phone call, the #Papa blessed the astronaut, his family, and his colleagues @HolySeePress

Con le parole del Salmo 8, insieme hanno meditato sul mistero della Creazione, la sua grandezza e la sua fragilità. Prima del termine della telefonata, il #Papa ha benedetto l’astronauta, la sua famiglia e i suoi collaboratori@HolySeePress

— Vatican News (@vaticannews_it) July 20, 2025

Following this momentous call, Aldrin expressed his gratitude on social media, stating, “Anca and I were grateful and touched to receive the highest blessing today from His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV on the 56th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. What an honor! We prayed for good health, long life, and prosperity for all humankind. #PopeLeoXIV”

Anca and I were grateful and touched to receive the highest blessing today, from His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV on the 56th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. What an honor! We prayed for good health, long life, and prosperity for all humankind. #PopeLeoXIV https://t.co/DafMs0K1TB

— Dr. Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) July 20, 2025

Earlier that day, Aldrin took to Twitter to reminisce about the monumental moon landing:

July 20, 1969. “Contact light, engine stop.” The Apollo 11 lunar module Eagle touched down at Tranquility Base on the Moon.

A few hours later, Neil Armstrong and I stepped foot on the Moon, with Michael Collins orbiting close-by.

An achievement resulting from years of incalculable effort, commitment, and teamwork.

We all did our part to see President Kennedy’s words become reality: “We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others too.”

I couldn’t be prouder to have completed this mission with the hundreds of thousands of people that helped get us to the moon and back home. God bless the USA and all of humankind.

July 20, 1969. “Contact light, engine stop.” The Apollo 11 lunar module Eagle touched down at Tranquility Base on the Moon.
A few hours later, Neil Armstrong and I stepped foot on the Moon, with Michael Collins orbiting close-by.
An achievement resulting from years of… pic.twitter.com/VN4qCoHx0K

— Dr. Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) July 20, 2025

To further commemorate this historic event, a nostalgic video clip of CBS News coverage with Walter Cronkite was shared, capturing the excitement of that remarkable night in 1969:

At 10:56 PM ET on July 20, 1969, American Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the surface of the Moon pic.twitter.com/qEiOdEcY5D

— RetroNewsNow (@RetroNewsNow) July 21, 2024