The Pontifical Academy of Sciences, founded in1936under its current name by Pope PiusXI, is placed under the protection of the reigning Supreme Pontiff (the current Pope). The aim of the Academy is to promote the progress of the mathematical, physical and natural sciences and the study of related epistemological problems and issues. Among all the 80 Academicians, scientists with worldwide reputation, 20 had been granted the Nobel Prize. The members of the Academy are elected by the body of Academicians on the basis of the high scientific value of their studies and of their acknowledged moral profile without any ethnic, political or religious discrimination and then officially appointed by the Roman Pontiff.