Pope Francis made a solemn visit to Auschwitz last Friday, July 29th.
More than 1.1 million people died at the former WW2 concentration camp in Poland. Auschwitz is connected with the notorious nazi leader, Himmler, who I’ve written about previously. Pope Francis’ horoscope reveals a unique leader.
Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17th, 1936, at 9pm in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Astrodatabank.com rates this birth data as very accurate. It is from Francis’ birth certificate.
Three planets have particular prominence. Uranus (red arrow), Pluto (blue arrow) and Mercury (green arrow).
Their prominence is because they are in angular houses. The angular houses (1st, 4th, 7th, 10th) are the ‘loudest’ in a horoscope. In other words, planets in these houses describe what people might notice most about a person.
Uranus is generally about reform and uniqueness. Pluto, power and authority. And Mercury is to associated with communication and thinking.
These three angular planets indicate firstly that Francis’ is prepared to make reforms (Uranus). And that that this reforming will be associated with his career (Uranus in the 10th house). And it will be undertaken in a structured and and orderly way. Particularly via negotiation (Mercury in Capricorn) underpinned with power and authority (Pluto).
Above all, this is a very ‘diplomatic’ horoscope. Particularly because of Mercury’s prominence close to the cusp of the 7th house. This is the house of ‘other people.’ Mercury here in this Saturn-ruled sign indicates Francis’s approach of constructive and disciplined dialogue, particularly with people and groups. It also indicates someone who is careful in what they communicate.
Uranus in Francis’ house of career (the 10th) is congruent with some unique features of his life. He is the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas. He is also the first from the Southern Hemisphere. And the first non-European pope since the Syrian Gregory III, who died in 741. Pope Francis is the first pope to create an Instagram account.
Key planetary aspect: Saturn-Neptune
There are two significant planetary aspects in Pope Francis’ horoscope.
First, Francis’ Saturn is opposite Neptune (blue arrows, above).
Saturn is our sense of discipline, order, responsibility and structure. Neptune is quite different. It is about high idealism, a grand vision or desire; spiritual or otherworldly matters.
Since these two planets are in aspect (connected), Neptune ‘inflects’ or imbues its otherworldy influence upon Saturn. In Francis’ context, Neptune likely represents his spiritual and religious dimension. It aspects and therefore influences his Saturnian side. His sense of responsibility (Saturn) is to a ‘higher calling’ (Neptune).
Neptune aspecting the Sun indicates that this spiritual dimension has a bearing on his selfhood. Since the Sun is our ego, self, core identity. His Sun in the 6th house denotes someone who has a ‘quiet’ and modest ego expression. The 6th house is one of the cadent houses (the cadents are the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th). If the angular houses are loud, planets in cadent houses tend to be much quieter and reserved. The Sun here indicates Francis’ outward modesty and reserve.
Saturn is also significant in Pope Francis’ horoscope because four planets in his horoscope are in Saturn-ruled signs: Jupiter, Mercury, Venus and the Moon. This means those planets have a modest and formal quality to them. This is entirely suitable and expected for someone in Francis’ role.
Key planetary aspect: Sun-Neptune
Secondly, his Sun is in a wide square to Neptune (purple arrows).
His Sun is in Sagittarius in the 6th house. This denotes someone who does not have a prominent ego. The 6th is one of the cadent houses (3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th), the ‘quietest’ of the houses. The Sun here indicates modesty and reserve. His Sun is conjunct the North Node. This ties his Sun expression to his ‘life lessons’, because the North Node is an aiming point in life. It is the part of our life that we need to ‘grow into’, despite it being uncomfortable and unfamiliar.
The South Node is our instinctual behaviour. Francis’ South Node is in the 12th house, in Gemini. This indicates an instinctually private person, who is striving to overcome this.
Life event: becoming a Jesuit, 1960
According to Wikipedia, Bergoglio officially became a Jesuit on March 12th, 1960.
This followed two years of training. On this day he made the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience as a member of the Jesuit order. What was going on, astrologically, on this day?
Below you can see Pope Francis’ horoscope (inner circle), Solar Arc Directions (or SADs, middle wheel) and transits for March 12th, 1960.
This diagram is called a 90 degree dial, or wheel. It is a different but useful way of displaying planetary movements. ‘Hard aspects’ (conjunction, square, opposition) all appear as conjunctions in a 90 degree dial.
Firstly, on March 12th, 1960 SAD Saturn aspects his Ascendant (or ‘rising sign’), shown by the red oval above.
Saturn is responsibility and structure. The Ascendant is our personality, how we come across to others. So Saturn to his Ascendant is therefore congruent with the vows and responsibilities undertaken at this time. It is a time of serious vows and resulting ‘limitations’ (Saturn).
Secondly, SAD Sun aspects Francis’ Mars (blue oval).
The Sun is identity, ego and core self. Here, it is connecting with Mars. Mars is about taking action, doing. His Mars is in the 3rd house, in Libra. Libra is about balance, relationship. More importantly, Mars is the ruler of Aries. And Aries in his horoscope is the (intercepted) 9th house. The 9th house is higher learning, travel and religious and spiritual matters.
Mars rules Scorpio. And Scorpio is his 4th (home, foundation) and 5th (creativity) house rulers. Putting this all together, we see Francis’ self (Sun) align with his will (Mars) to a religious life (9th house). One that will be his foundation or family (4th) and source of creative expression (5th). And his will (Mars) is characterised as seeking balance and harmony (Mars in Libra).
Life event: becoming Pope, 2013
He became Pope Francis on March 13th, 2013. Below is his horoscope with SADs and transits for this date. Again using the 90 degree dial.
SAD Moon aspects his M.C. at this time (blue oval).
The M.C. (aka Medium Coeli, or Midheaven, 10th house cusp) is about career, one’s ‘calling’ in life, or ‘magistery’. The Moon is associated with the emotional self. In Francis’ case, his Moon also governs, or rules, his Cancer Ascendant. So this Moon-M.C. connection brings his personality (Ascendant) and career (M.C.) into alignment. It also denotes an emotionally-charged moment in his life.
Pope Francis’ horoscope: summary
Pope Francis’ papal style is widely recognised as unique and different, a break with recent tradition.
He presents as empathetic (Cancer Ascendant, ruled by the Moon), diplomatic and thoughtful. Yet someone careful and structured (Saturn’s influence). His horoscope indicates he has a powerful ability to engage in structured dialogue with others. And he has a sense of responsibility (Saturn) driven by a higher calling (Neptune). And two key moments in his life have strong astrological connections.
In conclusion, Wikipedia has the following to say about Pope Francis. It reflects some of the topics covered above.
“Popular mainstream media frequently portray[s] Pope Francis [as] either as a progressive papal reformer or with liberal, moderate values.
The Vatican has claimed that Western news outlets often seek to portray his message with a less-doctrinal tone of papacy, in hopes of extrapolating his words to convey a more merciful and tolerant message. In the news media, both faithful and non-believers often refer to a “honeymoon” phase in which the Pope has changed the tone on Catholic doctrines and supposedly initiated ecclesiastical reform in the Vatican.”
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