Ufologist Lee Predicts First Contact with Extraterrestrial Civilization in 2026, Involving Pope Leo XIV

British documentary filmmaker and ufologist Mark Christopher Lee has put forth a startling prediction: the Catholic Church is allegedly preparing for a potential first encounter with intelligent extraterrestrial life, pinpointing the year 2026 for this event. Lee bases his assertions on his claimed ‘exclusive access’ to confidential Vatican archives, where he has reportedly examined historical accounts of supposed meetings with non-terrestrial entities. His documentary, titled ‘God Vs Aliens,’ which premiered in 2025, delves into the theological and spiritual ramifications should extraterrestrial life be confirmed, drawing connections between the UFO phenomenon, religious faith, and established prophecies.

A cornerstone of Lee’s claim centers squarely on the timeline: the year 2026. He posits that the new pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, might become the first spiritual leader to publicly address such a monumental discovery. Pope Leo XIV, who was elected on May 8, 2025, holds the distinction of being the first American pontiff, succeeding Pope Francis, who occupied the Holy See from 2013 until 2025. Lee suggests that the Church hierarchy may be far more receptive to the reality of alien existence than commonly assumed, and is already grappling with the theological fallout associated with such a revelation.

The topic of extraterrestrial life is certainly not new territory for the Vatican, demonstrating a historical openness to hypothetical scenarios. Pope Francis himself previously raised the speculative question regarding the possibility of baptizing an alien, indicating a lack of a single, monolithic official stance. Furthermore, in 2008, Father José Gabriel Funes, the former director of the Vatican Observatory and an Argentinian Jesuit, asserted that believing in extraterrestrial life does not conflict with Catholic doctrine, as such a belief does not constrain the boundless creative power of God. Funes, who led the observatory from August 2006 through September 2015, even mused about the possibility of referring to alien beings as ‘brothers’ or ‘sisters.’

Adding a technological dimension to the conversation, Professor Avi Loeb of Harvard University, whose work is referenced in Lee’s film, suggests that aliens might employ artificial intelligence (AI) driven drones to interface with Earth’s own AI systems for communication purposes. This perspective injects a distinctly modern flavor into a discussion that, according to Lee, is set to reach a crescendo in 2026, coinciding with heightened global interest in the declassification of UFO information. The Vatican Observatory, recognized as one of the world’s oldest astronomical institutions, maintains its primary base in Castel Gandolfo, while its telescopes are situated at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Pope Leo XIV, whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost, was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to his election, he served as the Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru and was elevated to the rank of Cardinal by Pope Francis on September 30, 2023. His election in May 2025 marked the ascent of the first member of the Order of Saint Augustine to the Chair of Saint Peter in a considerable time. In his inaugural New Year’s address on January 1, 2026, Pope Leo XIV called for an attitude of openness and peace, emphasizing that true peace is forged through the ‘relentless pursuit to understand, forgive, liberate, and embrace everyone, without calculation and without fear.’ This statement sets a clear international agenda for the Holy See at the start of the year Lee predicts could herald a cosmic unveiling.