Corrado Balducci

The theologian who invited the Catholic Church to re-evaluate its stance on the existence of extraterrestrials.

Name	Corrado Balducci
Age	85
Born	May 11, 1923
Died	September 20, 2008
Famous for	Presenting proof on why Catholics (or anyone) can believe in extraterrestrials

“Natura non facit saltus.” (Nature doesn’t make jumps).

This was the quote Monsignor Corrado Balducci used in his interview with journalist Bruno Mobrici on Special TG1 when asked about his opinions and seemingly positive attitude towards the belief of aliens on Earth.

While most ufologists and UFO researchers take their stance on the subject depending on personal experiences or facts laid out to them, the monsignor took a different approach—his was based on his personal beliefs, especially in theology.

Monsignor Corrado connected his belief in extraterrestrials to his vocation, using Jesus’s glory as an argument to affirm their existence and persuade people to take the subject seriously. This stance, with his role in the church, made him an influential figure in the UFO community, and his opinions remain among the most deplored within the highly contested subject.

His Early Life and Vocation

Monsignor Corrado Balducci was the highest-ranking Catholic official to speak about the possibility of extraterrestrial beings or UFOs.

Before resonating with the UFO phenomenon, the name Corrado Balducci was first a renowned demonologist, an exorcist for the Archdiocese of Rome, helping those who believed they had been possessed. He was widely valued for his opinions on satanism and occultism.

He achieved his position in the church with the following educational background:

• The Seminario Vescovile di Sarsina from 1934 to 1939
• The Pontifical Regional Seminary of Bologna from 1939 to 1942
• The Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica in 1954

Aside from his role as a demonologist, Monsignor Corrado Balducci also had multiple contributions within the Catholic Church and across various areas, which included:

• Secretary and auditor of the Apostolic Delegation of Jerusalem, Palestine, and Cyprus from July 1962 to November 1966
• The Apostolic Delegation in Washington in 1967
• A diplomat and member of the Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples
• A member of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith

Corrado Balducci’s Entry to UFO Discussions

Within the 1990s and early 2000s, Corrado’s name had already begun to grow associated with the UFO community. The particulars of his first-ever UFO interview remain vague, but the earliest publicly available interview about the subject dates back to 1995.

Corrado Balducci became a prominent figure in UFO discussions around this time, invited to speak and reiterate his opinions on multiple occasions.

A clear timeline of his known public appearances to discuss the subject is as follows:

• His 1995 interview with Italian State TV Special TG1
• His 1999 interview with Michael Hesemann
• His 2001 published article about UFOs

The 2005 UFO Conference in Gaithersburg, Maryland

1995: Interview with Italian State TV Special TG1

When asked about the possibility of extraterrestrial life on Earth, the Italian theologian didn’t provide a straightforward answer regarding his personal belief.

He didn’t specify whether he believed in their existence or not. Instead, he made a statement to affirm people’s testimonies and urged the public to do the same, and this became the center of the then-monsignor’s arguments on the subject.

“Nowadays, there are several considerations that allow us to say with assurance that the existence of these beings is real … We can’t have doubts. Maybe, we can say that over 100 phenomena, even if we say 99 are not real and one is real … It’s no longer within the sphere of human caution to doubt because cautiousness tells us not to negate.”

Aside from this, Corrado also used Carolus Linneaus’ quote, “Natura non facit saltus,” or the fact that nature doesn’t make jumps, to defend his positive attitude about the subject.

To elaborate, he explained that there are four evident and known realms on Earth:

• Plant Kingdom
• Animal Kingdom
• Human Kingdom
• Angelic Realm

However, he believed that a significant gap exists between the human kingdom and the angelic realm. Hence, he concluded it’s likely that within this gap are other beings. This may not mean aliens, but Corrado recognized the possibility.

1999: Interview with Michael Hesemann

Four years later, in a separate interview, Corrado’s attitude remained unwavering. He stuck to his belief that UFOs were real because of the numerous human testimonies and his conviction that these shouldn’t be questioned.

His opinion stemmed from the fact that many aspects of Christianity are also based solely on testimonies. Corrado believed that if these were respected, UFO accounts should be treated with the same respect since it’s fundamental to human society to value human testimony.

Corrado emphasized that to live without basic confidence in human testimony goes against the very foundation of society. He believed that if people were to continue being doubtful of others, there would come a point where the testimony of Christ’s existence would also be questioned.

2001: UFOs and Extraterrestrials… A Problem for the Church?

Corrado Balducci published an article presenting his comprehensive perspective on extraterrestrials and reiterating his previously made statements.

It focused on three of Corrado’s primary arguments on the subject:

• The fundamental importance of human testimony to society
• God’s omnipotence and the gap between humans and angels
• The statements by scientists, theologians, or servants of God to affirm the subject

Statements Balducci Referenced in His Article

The first two points had already been reiterated numerous times by the monsignor. However, to further strengthen his argument, Corrado referenced several individuals who had expressed the same attitude about the subject.

• Charles Richter, who said that simply because humanity has limited senses, it doesn’t have the right to claim it’s the only intelligent being in the cosmos
• Cardinal Nikolaus Cusanus, who stated that humans aren’t authorized to exclude the possibility of other star beings
• Fr. Angelo Secchi, who stated that to reduce the universe to just Earth is absurd
• Don Andrea Beltrami, who prayed for the inhabitants of other planets
• Capuchin Padre Pio, who expressed the belief that there are creatures on other planets because God’s omnipotence isn’t limited to Earth

2005: UFO Conference

In April of 2005, Corrado Balducci attended a UFO conference in Gaithersburg. He told the audience that UFOs weren’t only possibly real, but they were also non-threatening. Corrado also allegedly stood firm in his perspective of connecting the extraterrestrials to religion, saying that their interactions with humanity should be an occasion for a renewal of faith in people.

His Beliefs on Extraterrestrial Life vs. The Vatican

Throughout his public appearances, Corrado Balducci’s arguments on extraterrestrial life consistently aligned with the Catholic Church’s understanding of theology. He made it a point to correlate the public’s openness to believe in people’s accounts of UFO sightings with their openness to believe in the Gospel and the other truths reflected in the Bible.

This is one of the reasons why his opinions gained significant influence and were respected, especially given his position in the church.

However, regardless of how the public portrayed Corrado Balducci as representing the Vatican’s opinions about extraterrestrials, he firmly stated that his views were based solely on his research and didn’t represent the Holy See.

His Influence and Legacy in UFOlogy

Corrado Balducci will always be remembered as the Italian theologian who:

• Urged people to consider UFO phenomena seriously
• Encouraged the church to reconsider its opinions

This places him in a unique position at the intersection of religion and science. His belief suggests that a convergence between faith, science, and the unexplainable is possible, offering a new perspective on UFO studies that remains relevant today.

FAQ

Did Corrado Balducci believe in aliens?

Corrado Balducci believed in human testimony. He believes in the accounts of eyewitnesses about what they saw, despite having no personal encounters himself.

What did Balducci say about extraterrestrial life and the Church?

He was known to encourage the church to reconsider its views on the subject, believing that the phenomenon isn’t a divine or demonic occurrence but a physical reality.

Was he a Vatican spokesperson for UFOs?

While there had been allegations that Corrado’s statements reflected the Vatican’s position, he clarified that he didn’t serve as the church’s spokesperson.