Vatican honours scientist Galileo on 445^th birthday .

(Feb.18,2009): Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sent a message to an unprecedented Mass held in honour of Galileo Galilei, marking the scientist's 445th birthday. Cardinal Bertone spoke of the harmony between faith and science in the message, sent for the solemn Mass celebrated Sunday (16 Feb) in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and Martyrs in Rome. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, and organized by the World Federation of Scientists, chaired by physicist Antonino Zichichi. The cardinal's message described Galileo as a model, since he "knew how to read and study science through the eyes of faith."
Cardinal Bertone assured the Mass participants of Pope Benedict‘s spiritual closeness, and greeted the scientists, in particular, the representatives of the Sciences Academy of China. At the end of the Mass, Zichichi announced that a statue of Galileo will be erected in the basilica to honour the great scientist.