Pope Benedict and the astronauts

Pope Benedict XVI on Monday received in audience a group of astronauts amongst whom there were two upon whom he had bestowed an historic blessing during the first-ever papal call to space in May this year.

The two astronauts of Italian nationality, Roberto Vittori and Paolo Nespoli, were accompanied by members of their crews on the International Space Station and by other members of Italian and European Space Agencies.

The Pope had linked up with 12 astronauts aboard Endeavor and the International Space Station for an 18-minute conversation on May 21, 2011. During that link, Pope Benedict offered his support of the space exploration programme and extended his blessing to the astronauts, a mix of Americans, Russians and Italians.

Seated at a table before a television set tuned to NASA's live broadcast from orbit, the Pope told the space travelers that "you are our representatives spearheading humanity's exploration of new spaces and possibilities for our future." He said he admired their courage, discipline and commitment.

During Monday’s audience in the Papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the astronauts gave the Pope three symbolic gifts in remembrance of that historic conversation between Benedict and the astronauts who were in orbit, circling the earth.

The gifts include a silver medal engraved with a scene from Michelangelo’s Creation that was given to the astronauts by the Pope and taken into space; an Atlas of the universe; and a photograph of the Space Station flying the Vatican flag and the Nasa flag side by side.