According to The Times, the Vatican is to erect a statue of Galileo inside its walls.
From the article:
Nicola Cabibbo, head of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and a nuclear physicist, said: “The Church wants to close the Galileo affair and reach a definitive understanding not only of his great legacy but also of the relationship between science and faith.”
In light of this announcement, it would seem that the recent protest over Pope Benedict’s speech at La Sapienza University – a protest sparked by then Cardinal Ratzinger’s supposed defense of Galileo’s condemnation at the hands of the Inquisition – was more misguided than ever.
They should put it on a turntable, and write “E pur si muove” on the plaque.