Monsignor Corrado Balducci

Monsignor Corrado Balducci, a Catholic theologian and prelate of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, became one of the most notable voices in the Vatican to address the subject of extraterrestrial life during the late 1990s and early 2000s. A respected expert on demonology and member of the Vatican’s Beatification Committee, Balducci was uniquely positioned to speak with authority on theological boundaries while remaining open to scientific and cultural developments.

Balducci distinguished himself by asserting that UFO phenomena and the possibility of extraterrestrial life deserved serious consideration. He consistently emphasized that these subjects need not contradict Catholic theology, since the existence of other intelligent beings would not diminish the uniqueness of the human soul, which he described as a direct creation of God. His participation in forums such as the 2000 International Convention on the Mystery of Human Existence in Bellaria, Italy, reflected this openness. There, in dialogue with figures like Zecharia Sitchin, Balducci demonstrated a willingness to explore connections between theology, ancient history, and contemporary speculation—encouraging a more expansive, less dogmatic approach within religious discourse.