That's a rather funny remark. The then Pope was making a case for religion coexisting with science. I think that's a healthy stance to take for one who is the spiritual leader for so many, especially when there are those out there who wish to lead those people in a different and opposite direction. Even if he is no longer alive, does that make his comments invalid? Do we ignore Plato, Aristotle, Newton or Einstein because they are dead as well?