From Math Class to Papal Science Academy

Pope Leo XIV (B.S. Mathematics, Villanova '77) has transformed the Pontifical Academy of Sciences into a powerhouse. The "Einstein Pope" appointed 30 new members - including climate scientists and AI ethicists - and mandated that all bishop candidates complete basic science literacy courses. "My thesis on fractal geometry helped me see God's patterns," he told Nobel laureates at a recent Vatican summit. His most controversial move? Approving research into "quantum theology" exploring entanglement theory's spiritual implications. The Augustinian scholar (PhD, Angelicum) also uses statistical models to optimize global parish resources. "If medieval popes embraced Gothic architecture," he argues, "why shouldn't we use data science?" Creationists have protested, but Jesuit physicists praise his "faithful curiosity."