The Apollo 11 mission takes off from Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, FL
Which bishop has jurisdiction over the moon? As ridiculous as the question may seem, lunar colonization has long captured the human imagination and may even become relevant in the foreseeable future due to advances in tech. Beyond that, exploring seemingly silly questions like this can lead us toward deeper questions and insights on the Church. Specifically, it can help us see that we are Christ’s very body, united by love.
Archbishop William Borders first brought the idea of a moon bishop to the public mind in the 1960s, during his tenure as the Bishop of Orlando. He jokingly explained to Pope St. Paul VI that the 1917 Code of Canon Law stipulated that newly discovered territories fell under the jurisdiction of the diocese from which the discovering expedition launched. Since the moon landing launched from the diocese of Orlando, he was bishop of the moon. At the same time, Archbishop Terence Cooke of New York also claimed this title with his jurisdiction over the Military Ordinariate, as the Apollo missions all launched from military bases.
Ultimately, such decisions of jurisdiction fall on the Pope himself who, unsurprisingly, has made no formal decision. As the bishops would have nobody to govern, the question of jurisdiction – however amusing – means nothing. But maybe this debate comically reveals deeper truths about the Body of Christ.
The very absurdity of imagining a bishop governing an empty moon reminds us that the Church exists for the relationship between God and His people. He gave us His Body because He loves us. Bishops govern areas as representatives of God’s love to humanity, so governing the moon would be pointless without humans on it to love.
We can also reflect on the fact that, no matter where we are, we belong to the Body of Christ because love connects us. One day we may colonize the moon. In such an event, the Church would surely work to establish her presence there. God’s love follows us wherever we go, even into the stars. Our bodies make up the members of the Body of Christ and God’s love dwells inside us.
“If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there!” (Psalm 139:8)
No matter who the bishop of the moon is, it all belongs to Christ
Chris Tarantino is the Communications Director for TOBET. He studied History at The University at Texas A&M and has written for the Tennessee Register and Nashville Catholic.
This blog and all content on this website is copyrighted, all rights reserved. © 2025 Theology of the Body Evangelization Team, Inc. (TOBET)