John Paul II’s Meetings with Scientists in Castel Gandolfo. What Does a Person’s Body Have to do with Their Physical Body?

John Paul II met with scientists, philosophers, and theologians at Castel Gandolfo on several occasions. These were scientific symposia organized in a series titled: Science — Religion — History. Our work reveals the Pope’s relationship with the Vatican Observatory, as well as his earlier activities concerning science and faith in Krakow. We also mention an important letter from John Paul II to Fr. George Coyne S. J. We point out a certain difficulty in the encounter between the Holy Father’s enduring perspective on faith and the detailed scientific approach, which is constantly changing. Nevertheless, we point out a possible point of this encounter that scientists can develop, namely, being human persons, they can look at the bodies of persons not only physically but also personally, in the perspective of John Paul II’s adequate anthropology.