Pope Francis l visits America

The Pope arrives in America September 22, amid a week of intense astrological transits. Thursday morning the Pope will address Congress as Mercury squares Pluto. This is a transit of propaganda, with different sides trying to convince each other of their position. Situations can be revealed and there often no desire to compromise. This transit will fall on the Sun of the US chart in the house of open enemies and I expect conflict and anger in several areas. Mars squares Saturn and this represents conflict, anger and frustration. Typically, this produces situations that involve police and or the military.

These transits fall on the eve of a powerful eclipse in Aries.

Jupiter is in opposition to Neptune this is a transit that fuels religious debates. Some will experience this as a time of spiritual awakenings, while others will view the Pope's visit as  religious propaganda.

Let's take a look at the astrology of the current Pope.

Pope Francis l: Stalemate or harbinger of change?

His papacy was born on the passage of five planets and a luminary moving through the sign of Pisces, the most spiritual of signs and the sign ruling religion. The Papal conclave was held jut 24 hours after the new moon in Pisces, and he was elected Pope on the second day of the Vatican conclave, as Mars entered the critical degree of 0, known as a degree that would bring events that affect the world at large.

 Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis l, the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church March 13, 2013, the first non-European Pope since 741 to be elected. He is of Italian linage and his family migrated from Italy to Argentina in the 1920's after WWl.

Pope Francis is the former arch bishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina and a Jesuit. His papal name honors St. Francis of Assisi, the son of wealthy merchants who abandoned all for a life of poverty in the path of Jesus Christ.

Jupiter was square Neptune at the time of his election adding mystery, intrigue and idealism to circumstances and rumors concerning the Vatican, blackmail among priests and the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, who would become the first Pope to resign in 600 years. Scotland's top priest resigned just before the conclave after admitting to sexual misconduct leaving 800,000 Catholics without a Cardinal. Theories were rampant concerning 'The Prophesy of the Popes,' a 12th century writing attributed to Irish archbishop, Saint Malachy. Proponents of the prophecies claim that the list ends with a pope identified as "Peter the Roman", whose pontificate will allegedly bring the destruction of the city of Rome and usher in the beginning of the Apocalypse.

There were also theories and allegations that arrest warrants and court documents naming Pope Benedict XVI would be served.

Lightening hit the Sistine Chapel following his resignation a comet was seen, and the internet was full of theories as to the meanings of these events.

On the day Bergoglio became Pope, Mercury was retrograde in Pisces and the moon was void of course, meaning it had made its last aspect before changing signs. Decisions made on a void of course moon can lack dynamism and decisions and new beginnings made on a retrograde Mercury often do not turn out as planned.

Pope Francis was born December 17, 1938 in Buenos Aries, Argentina, time of birth is unknown but could be published at a later date.

He is a 25 degree Sagittarius with a moon and Venus in Aquarius. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the planet of gain, expansion and optimism and is the significator of religion. Sagittarians are generally outspoken, honest, and truth seekers. Francis 1, is being touted in the media as a reformer. His Aquarius moon and Venus square Uranus give him the configurations typical of a reformer with a Uranus square to his personal planets. Uranus squares indicate the reformer and the rebel and give the individual personal magnetism. Often these individuals depart from established routines.

The new Pope's Sun lies next to his North Node at 24 degrees of Sagittarius. A North/South node in Sagittarius/Gemini shows him to be a man of ideals and ideas and philosophy always searching for the truth, and herein lies his destiny in this life. His north node is conjunct his Sun, and author Celeste Teal writes, "there are special privileges or a boost to achievements--it's like being in the right place at the right time, and having considerable luck, mingling and interacting with important people, plenty of material abundance, and so forth. Things just click for such a person and they may be drawn into the limelight."

His moon, along with Venus is in Aquarius. Aquarius rules the 11th house of groups and the collective and these individuals can have a concern or interest in the collective, along with ideas that can concern humanity. The moon represents the emotional nature and 

Aquarius is a fixed air sign. Fixed signs tend to be stubborn, set in their ways and resistant to change and firm in their opinions. They generally display qualities of resolve and perseverance. Aquarius moons stir things up and tend to make things happen. Aquarius is ruled by Saturn and Uranus and Uranus is the planet of revolution and change and revolution.

Pope Francis is said to have foregone chauffeur driven limousines in favor of riding the bus to work so that he could meet with members of his Parrish and discuss their concerns. He is known for his hands on approach of connecting with the people (groups-11th house), and his love of the poor and downtrodden.

But with his Mercury and Jupiter in Capricorn his ideas would not change rapidly and he looks to find value in his decisions which would have lasting impact.

Mercury rules speech, communication and thinking, and in this sign gives a focused mind concerned with the practical aspects of life. This individual desires to be absorbed in thoughts that lead to end results, and at times can be verbally intimidating. This sign has patience, and those with Mercury in this sign can point out flaws and be pessimistic. They usually think before they speak and are most interested in tangible results. This individual can have rigid thinking and often strive to give ideas form through ideas and institutions that have been built and proven over time. This is a conservative thinker.

Jupiter in Capricorn indicates an individual who is financially conservative-at times considered cheap by others-and looks for value in terms of spending.

While Pope Francis is called a reformer by some, his viewpoints on issues concerning women and gay individuals are conservative. He openly opposed his country's decision to allow gay marriage, calling it, "a destructive attack on God's plan,' and is against gay adoption. He is against birth control abortion and the ordination of women in the priesthood.

In 2010 however, as his country was in the throes of legalizing gay marriage, he came out in favor of civil unions for gays as opposed to marriage. By taking this unprecedented action we can see his Aquarius moon-Venus square Uranus. So he may not be conservative as his predecessors or alternatively, he chose a course of action that shows his strategic skills since it was a given that Argentina would legalize gay marriage. Strategy is an Aquarius trait as well. Either way, it makes a departure from usual Vatican rhetoric concerning gay individuals.

Transiting Pluto is conjunct his Mercury winter-spring of 2013, and during April/ May of 2013 Uranus enters the fray squaring his Mercury as well, and The Uranus-Pluto square falls directly on Mercury in his natal chart. This life altering aspect is capable of changing his thinking on many different levels. He will process a lot of information quickly with Uranus, and there will likely be sudden and unexpected news and decisions that can change his basic thinking. This will be a challenging period and by the time this transit completes its cycle in 2015, his thinking will have changed in many areas, or he will have uncovered new information to support or detract from his ideas. Whatever planet Pluto transits in the natal chart it changes or transforms, and in this case the Pope's thinking and possibly viewpoints will be subject to deep thought, research and ultimately change. His opinions and thoughts and comments will be severely tested for truth.

Mars represents our actions, and the Pope's Mars is in the sign of Libra, generally portraying an individual who tries to get along with others and works well with groups, often trying to please.

Mars in Libra individuals prefer to act with harmony front and center of any issue. Keeping balance and inspiring or hitting the correct tone in any situation is what inspires these individuals who push for balance and justice in the world, and they love to champion a cause they consider just. Pope Francis has spent his career championing the poor.

By far though, the most revealing aspect in his chart is the opposition between Neptune and Saturn at 18/16 degrees of Virgo-Pisces from the 4th to 10th house of career and foundation in his Sun sign chart. This transit reveals him to be a man who is not impressed with worldly goods, but is focused on humility, spiritual matters and selfless service to others. It would be considered a difficult transit for many, but this configuration shows him to be devout in his faith, and devoted to a life of piety and service. His namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, took a vow of poverty, rejecting all worldly goods.

Pisces (faith and compassion) is a mutable water sign and easily has compassion for others, and often gives without thinking. Virgo (work, responsible service, piety, Virgo is Latin for  virgin) is a mutable earth sign and rules work and service, but is more discerning than Pisces, and the two planets being in an opposition play off each other. This transit stands out in terms of spiritual discipline and authority, and this aspect is the dominant focus in his natal chart. This opposition also points to his year of birth, and the events that were occurring when he was born that would influence his future.

Most people born with this transit overcame great hardships. In 1936, the Great Depression lingered in America with unemployment near 20%. Hitler's Germany was rising and the Germans built the Sachsenhausen prison camp and occupied the Rhineland, and Hitler and Mussolini were front and center in Europe pre WWll. This was the world he was born into and these events would color his early and future life.

By 2018 transiting Neptune will conjunct his Saturn, opposing natal Neptune. This will be another life altering transit, and during this time many deeply held beliefs will be called into question. Without his time of birth we cannot be certain which houses in his chart, or areas of life this will affect, but as Neptune conjuncts Saturn in Pisces there is a 12th/6th house connotation relating to work and service and deeply ingrained ideas. This is a complex transit and individuals often come to believe they are wrong on many issues. It also tends toward seclusion, and at times can indicate scandal, depression and changes on many deeply personal issues. As Pope Benedict begins his retirement for example, Neptune squares Saturn in his chart. Neptune oppositions (Pope Francis) only occur in individuals about the same age as he will be, but all Neptune transits tend toward seclusion and retirement and meditation.  From his Sun, this aspects his 4th-10th houses and the 4th house is often considered 'the end of the matter.'

The Pope's natal Saturn in Pisces squares the Sun, Mercury and Moon of the Vatican natal chart, and this will likely cause problems or obstacles in his dealings with the them, and they may not respond well to all of his ideas. He may see the need for change, but  his ideas may not all be well received.

His Pluto in Cancer however makes a powerful sextile to the Vatican Jupiter lying at the mid-heaven of the Vatican natal chart, indicating he will have some powerful friends there, and his presence will have some long lasting effects. (3-2013)