Following the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s discovery of an exoplanet very similar to Earth, many have pondered the possibility of alien life if not civilisation, and its impact on mankind.
Even the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, was recently confronted with the question on the potential existence of intelligent alien life, and his answer is straightforward: Let scientists find answers, but let's keep faith in God.
In an interview with French journalist Caroline Pigozzi of Paris Match, the Pope was asked if he believes there could be other thinking beings in outer space, given the recent discovery of the new planet, Kepler 452 B, which has striking similarities to Earth.
To answer the question, the pontiff acknowledged that he does not have sufficient scientific background to give a response.
He conceded though that things that seem impossible now maybe discovered in the future.
"Honestly I wouldn't know how to answer. Until America was discovered we thought it didn't exist, and instead it existed," he said.
Nevertheless, the Roman Catholic Church leader said that science and religion need not clash on the matter of alien life.
"But in every case I think that we should stick to what the scientists tell us, still aware that the Creator is infinitely greater than our knowledge," the Pope said.
He added that one thing is certain about the universe: that it "is not the result of chance or chaos," but rather of divine intelligence.
Pope Francis further said that the universe is the result "of the love of God who loves us, who created us, who desired us and never leaves us alone."
In the same interview, the Pope also tackled the issue of climate change, which he already discussed in detail in an encyclical he released earlier this year.
Pope Francis maintained that "the current world system in unsustainable." He also called on world leaders who will attend the climate change talks in Paris this November to "contribute to a concrete choice, shared and farsighted, for the common good."
