The Vatican's top astronomer has claimed aliens could exist and that this does not conflict with religious beliefs.

Speaking at a Vatican conference on extraterrestrial life Rev. Jose Funes said astrobiology was a valid area of research for the church.

The five-day event had been attended by 30 high-level scientists including astronomers, geologists, biologists and physicists.

Fune concluded the event saying that just because there was no hard evidence of ET didn't mean that aliens don't exist and that people shouldn't believe.

It is a good job he doesn't think "hard evidence" is a prerequisite for belief … otherwise he could be in the wrong job.