Pope Francis Willing To Baptize Aliens and Take Selfies With Them

On Monday’s Mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis said that he will baptize aliens if they come here on Earth. His homily focused on the question “Who are we to close the door to the Holy Spirit?”

“If – for example – tomorrow an expedition of Martians came, and some of them came to us, here… Martians, right? Green, with that long nose and big ears, just like children paint them… and one says, ‘But I want to be baptized!’ What would happen?”

Pope Francis said that he would baptize them, and even take a selfie with them afterwards.

Pope Francis’ homily is more than just the green creatures he was willing to baptize. He used aliens as a metaphor for outsiders, immigrants, and those that are shunned by society. He then explained that the today’s church could learn a thing or two from the early church. In other words, the church should not close its doors to anyone. “It was never the ministry of the closed door, never,” he said.

According to TIME, the Pope’s message also talks about not withholding the rite of baptism to anyone. In a comment the Pope made earlier, he said that churches should not refuse baptism to children of parents that are not wed. There were even reports that Pope Francis called an unwed mother and said that he will be the one to baptize her child if she does not find a priest who is willing to do it.

He then cited Peter the Apostle as an example from the Bible. Peter chose to baptize and associate with pagans who were deemed “unclean” and Christians criticized him for it. The Pope said that he agrees with Peter’s decision to reach out to the heathens.

Pope Francis expressed his sympathy for unwed mothers, saying that they should not have to go from parish to parish just so they could find someone who is willing to baptize their child.

The Daily Beast reports that Pope Francis is not the first Vatican insider to welcome the idea of extraterrestrial life. In 2008, Argentine Jesuit Father Jose Funes, the Vatican’s chief astronomer said, “Believing in the possible existence of extraterrestrial life is not opposed to Catholic doctrine.” Funes also referred to the words of the Pope, saying that if earthly creatures are considered sisters and brothers, “Why can’t we also speak of an extraterrestrial brother?”

Recently, the Pope has been making headlines for his unique take on church views. His campaign is to make the church open to everyone, and talking about aliens may be a good way to keep his audience interested in what he has to say.

[Image via TIME]