Stephen Hawking Church leaders have offered their condolences upon the death of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, who although did not believe in God, fostered a fruitful dialogue between science and faith.
The British-born scientist who died today at the age of 76 was an esteemed member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
The academy, which Pope Pius IX established in 1847, tweeted: “We are deeply saddened about the passing of our remarkable Academician Stephen #Hawking who was so faithful to our Academy.” “He told the 4 Popes he met that he wanted to advance the relationship between Faith and Scientific Reason. We pray the Lord to welcome him in his Glory.” The Vatican observatory, @SpecolaVaticana, also expressed its condolences to Hawking’s family. “We value the enormous scientific contribution he has made to quantum cosmology and the courage he had in facing illness,” the observatory tweeted in Italian.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster tweeted, “We thank Stephen Hawking for his outstanding contribution to science. As a member of the Pontifical Academy of Science, he will be missed and mourned there, too.” Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury tweeted, “Professor Stephen Hawking’s contribution to science was as limitless as the universe he devoted his life to understanding. His was a life lived with bravery and passion. As we pray for all those who mourn him, may he rest in peace.”
Blessed Paul VI named Hawking a member of the papal academy in 1986. The academy’s members are chosen on the basis of their academic credentials and professional expertise – not religious beliefs. Blessed Paul, the first of four popes to meet Hawking, gave the then 33-year-old scientist the prestigious Pius XI gold medal in 1975 after a unanimous vote by the academy in recognition of his great work, exceptional promise and “important contribution of his research to scientific progress.”
Hawking most recently met Pope Francis when he delivered his presentation on “The Origin of the Universe” at the academy’s plenary session on science and sustainability in 2016.
Carol Glatz, CNS