CiRA Director Shinya Yamanaka was appointed by Pope Francis as an  ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
 
The academy selects candidates for a seat in the academy "on the basis of their eminent original scientific studies and of their acknowledged moral personality, without any ethnic or religious discrimination," according to the website of the academy.
 
Yamanaka said; "I am truly honored to be appointed as an ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. In order to contribute to the progress of sciences, I will make serious efforts to promote iPS cell research."