Benedict XVI addresses Space Station

(May 21, 2011) The 12 astronauts circling the Earth got a call from a much higher authority Saturday.Pope Benedict XVI made the first ever papal call to space. He addressed the shuttle and station crews from the Vatican. Two Italians are on board: Endeavour astronaut Roberto Vittori to whom he had given a medal as a symbol of his participation in the space mission and International Space Station resident Paolo Nespoli who’s mother had died.. The pope said he admired the astronauts' courage, discipline and commitment. He added that he hopes shuttle commander Mark Kelly's wife continues to improve. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, his wife, was shot in Tucson, Ariz., in January. Kelly thanked him for his kind words. The Pope’s brief message was followed by 5 interesting and inspiring questions asked by the Pope and answered by the astronauts. While the Pope could see the astronauts on the large TV screen in front of his desk, the astronauts could not see the Pope, but could only hear him.. The long-distance papal audience was arranged by the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. NASA provided technical support from Houston.