ESA astronauts Paolo Nespoli and Roberto Vittori and their crewmates from their MagISStra and DAMA missions visited the Pontifical Villa of Castel Gandolfo in Italy for a private audience with his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on 19 September.

Astronauts Catherine Coleman, Mark Kelly, Gregory Johnson, Michael Fincke, Andrew Feustel, Gregory Chamitoff and Scott Kelly, together with ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain and Volker Liebig, Director of Earth Observation, accompanied Paolo and Roberto during the visit. Jean-Jacques Dordain presented the Pope with a commemorative picture.