Astrology of Popes
WHAT MAKES A POPE A POPE? Let us have a look at their charts and find out:
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH LEADERS' CHARTS
Welcome! Here I am searching for the religious component in the charts of popes but also for the career that they made (ambition and success). I checked 18 charts of popes (list below) and I found this in the chart of the first 10 popes (the ancient ones):
- The midpoint Jupiter/Neptune is a strong indicator for popes, followed by and/or together with a prominent Neptune.
- Modern popes all have a Jupiter/Uranus combination of midpoints in their charts as well.
- Popes are getting less Saturnal and more frequently Jupiter is in the first house. (Benedict the 16th however combines an elevated Saturn with Jupiter on the ascendant).
- All of the ancient popes have the Jupiter/Neptune factor. Nine of them have the midpoint Jupiter/Neptune aspected (orb 1d) and one has a variation (Neptune=Mercury/Jupiter) plus Jupiter semi square Neptune. In 3 charts Sun aspected both Jupiter and Neptune (as an extra).
- 80 percent of these ancient popes have Saturn prominent on a corner or on top (4), have Capricorn ascendant (3) or Saturn aspecting the ascendant (1) . One has not, he has Saturn in Leo.
- 70% have a planet in the eight house. 4 times it is Uranus.
- 50% have indications for not marrying acc. to Ram (Mars in conflict with Uranus, Moon in conflict with Saturn or Neptune).
- Neptune is prominent(4x) or aspected by the Sun(3x) in 7 out of the 10 cases. 3 times the crucial Neptune is very low in the chart (square Ascendant or on IC), one Neptune is elevated
- Jupiter/Uranus is less frequent. Only 4 times this midpoint was aspected (by Sun, Moon, Pluto and MC) and there were 2 variations, but in 4 cases there was no Jupiter/Uranus indication at all.
MODERN POPES COMPARED
The 8 popes born after the French revolution have this in their charts:
- 50% (4 out of 8) have Jupiter/Neptune in aspect with a planet or corner, one does not have this at all, one has a conjunction of Jupiter and Neptune in the 10th and 2 have variations of a Jupiter/Neptune midpoint combination. Given the fact that only one pope is missing the Jupiter/Neptune factor you might see this Jupiter/Neptune as an important part of the chart of modern popes as well as for ancient popes. In 'Astrology, aspects'/Jupiter in aspect with Neptune' you read more about this combination of the devoted audience.
- Three popes have Jupiter in the first house. Jupiter means 'open' and 'tolerant'. That is modern. Only 50 % of the modern popes (and 80% of the ancient popes) have Saturn prominent. But Benedict the 16th has Saturn on top. He is above all a conservative.
- Over 60% have Neptune prominent, so a little less than in the charst of the ancient popes. Benedict the 16th has Sun trine Neptune. Neptune is the planet of beliefs.
CONCLUSION
The importance of Jupiter/Uranus in the charts of popes is growing. All of the modern popes have this combination (JP2 only when used the semi semi square 22,5 degrees: Jupiter=Moon/Uranus). Benedict the 16th has MC on Jupiter/Uranus. In 'Astrology/aspects/Jupiter in aspect with Uranus' you can read more about this combination of the helicopter view.
Above is the chart of Pope Benedict XVIth with transits and progressions for the day that he visited Turkey. The natal chart of the present Pope Benedict 16th has a crucial and calling Jupiter and Saturn, the combination for hierarchy and a vocation for clergy. Saturn is on top, so that he is above all a conservative in his conviction (Sagittarius) but open and tolerant in his aproach. Jupiter in Pisces calling can also be read as a call for expressing devotion at any possible level. Sun trine Neptune is an excellent combination for a spiritual leader.
When he became pope, transit Pluto on his MC told him that he had to do it. Apart from the prominent Jupiter in Pisces he has another religious combination: Mars 22.5 Jupiter/Neptune. Another tight aspect is that of the diplomatic and polite Moon in Libra, square Pluto! I think he can be very rigid in following certain habits and rules that he is used to and I have heard about strict schedules. There is Mercury square Mars for sharp words or discussions and Venus square Neptune for sometimes making the wrong choices...But who is perfect?
BTW, an interesting position is that of Uranus, rising before the Sun. When Pope Benedict started his job, people spoke of an intermin pope, because of his age. However, Uranus position (oriental) is frequent in the chart of those who became older than average.
USED DATA
Popes
1. PAUL 5 (17TH SEPTEMBER 1552 ,16 H LMT TE ROME (MEMBER OF THE BORGHESEFAMILY)
Midpoint combinations:
Sun=Ascendant=Jupiter/Neptune = Neptune/Pluto and Jupiter = Sun/Uranus
Success indicators: 3
Type: air
On the cross of MC/Asc: Saturn, Pluto en Jupiter.
Empty XIIth house.
Uranus in 8.
Neptune is the lowest planet in the chart.
Aquarius ascendant and Saturn and Pluto in 1st house in Aquarius
2. CLEMENT 8TH, FANO, 24 FEBRUARY 1536 AT 1U10 LMT.
Success indicators: 5
Midpoint combinations: Moon= Jupiter/Neptune plus Jupiter = Mercury/Neptune plus Node = Jupiter/Uranus.
Type : water.
Cross MC/AC: Neptune conjunct IC
Mars conjunct Uranus in 8.
Saturn in 9th equal house trine Moon
Variation on Jupiter/Uranus: Sun=Jupiter/Ascendant=Uranus/Pluto
3. JULIUS 2ND, 22 JUNE 1445, 12U20 GMT SAVONA
Success indicators : 5
Midpoint combinations: Neptune = Mercury/Jupiter, Node = Neptune/MC = Neptune/Pluto.
Type : combined air/water.
Cross MC/AC: Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto.
Mars is conjunct Uranus.
Empty XIIth house.
Saturn on top!
Libra ascendant. Neptune indications missing.
Aspect : Jupiter semi square Neptune
4. PAUL 3RD – HE INITIATED THE INQUISITION - BORN 28 FEBRUARY 1468, 3:23 IN CANINO.
Success indicators: 2 next to the combination of Sun sq. Jupiter and 108 (1,5 quintile) Pluto.
Midpoints: Mercury = MC = Neptune/Pluto, Node = Jupiter/Neptune, Neptune = Asc/MC and Moon=Jupiter/Uranus.
AC/MC: Mars.
Moon opp. Neptune. Uranus in 8th. Chiron in 12th.
Type: balanced.
Ascendant Capricorn
Neptune on top
5. LEO 10TH, 11 DECEMBER 1475 6:13 GMT FLORENCE – MEMBER OF THE MEDICI FAMILY - HAS MARS SEXTILE URANUS.
AC/MC: Venus.
Saturn in VIII.
Success indicators: 6
Midpoints: Sun = Jupiter/Uranus= Node, Asc = Neptune/MC, Uranus = Jupiter/Neptune.
Type: a bit more of fire and earth in a well balanced combination of elements
Ascendant Sagittarius with Venus on ascendant and Mars on top of the chart
No Neptune or Saturn prominent
6. PAUL 4 BORN 28 JUNE 1477 , 1:27 GMT CAPRIGLIO
AC/MC: Saturnus on IC
Ruler 12 in 1.
AC/MC: Mercury and Venus.
Succesind.: 3; plus Sun sq Jupiter
Midpoints: Ascendant = Neptune/Pluto = Jupiter and Pluto = Jupiter/Neptune.
Type: water
Note This man is know as a torturer of ‘witches’. He has Saturn=Sun/Mars=Sun/Pluto and Jupiter (ruler 10th house)=Mars/Saturn=Saturn/Pluto, Mars squares Pluto.)
Note: Saturn squares Uranus
Neptune is not prominent
7.CLEMENT 7(DE MEDICI), BORN 26TH MAY 147810H30 LMT IN FLORENCE
AC/MC: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
Type: Some more water than air.
Moon in 8 inconjunt Saturn, Node in 12.
Midpoints: Sun = Neptune/Pluto, Uranus = Mercury/Jupiter and MC = Jupiter/Neptune= Jupiter/Uranus.
5 success indicators.
Ruler 12 in 10
Saturn conjunct ascendant
Neptune lowest planet in the chart
8. PIUS 4 (DE MEDICI), BORN 29TH MARCH 1499,8H52 GMT IN MILANO
Mars in 8th house Placidus, Uranus in 8th house Equal, Node and Chiron in 12th, ruler 12 in 10
No corner planets
Sun square Neptune and sextile Jupiter.
7 success indicators
Midpoints: Pluto = Jupiter/Uranus, Neptune = Pluto/MC, Uranus = Jupiter/MC and Mars = Jupiter/Neptune.
Combined air/watertype.
Moon inconjunct Saturn
Cancer ascendant sextile Saturn
9. GREGOR 13TH, BORN 1ST OF JANUARY 1502 AT 19H15 LMT IN BOLOGNA.
Success: 4 and Sun square Jupiter and conjunct Neptune
Mars opp. Pluto.
Midpoints: Sun = Maan = Jupiter/Neptune.
Empty 8th and 12th..
Moon square Neptune.
Saturn in 10.
Ascendant Leo
10. SIXTUS 5, BORN 13TH DECEMBER 1521, 8 O´CLOCK LMT IN GROTTAMARE
Jupiter in XII and on the ascendant conjunct Sun en 7 other success indicators in this chart.
The conjunction Asc/Jup/Sun makes a sextile to Neptune. Mars conjunct Pluto in first house. Ruler X in I, empty 8th house.
Type: 6 out of 10 planets in earth and no fire
Midpoints : Moon = Neptune/Pluto, MC = Jupiter/Neptune
Ascendant: Capricorn
Contemporary popes (born after French revolution)
11. PIUS 12 WAS POPE FROM 1939 TO 1958 AND BORN 2ND MARCH 1876 AT 21U40 IN ROME.
Opposition of Mercurius/Uranus on IC/MC, Mars on descendant and Maan on cusp 8. Neptune on the descendant
Jupiter in 1ste house. Moon square Saturn.
3 success indicators.
Midpoints: Mercury = Jupiter/Neptune = Uranus , Jupiter = Sun/Uranus = Mercury/Uranus (you would start thinking he practised astrologyJ), Node = Jupiter/Neptune = MC.
Well balanced fire and earthtype.
Saturn is in the same sign as the Sun (Pisces). It would be a 12,5 degree orb to make it a conjunction…
Ascendant is Scorpio
12. PIUS 11 (BORN 31 MAY 1857 AT 8 LMT IN DESIO)
Saturn in the 12th and Jupiter in the Xth.
Earthtype without fire.
Moon opposite Neptune. Conjunction of Venus, Jupiter and Pluto in 10th house.
Zon halfquintile Jupiter and 4 success indicators.
MC = Neptune/Ascendant, Uranus= Moon/Jupiter, Jupiter =Mercury/Neptune = Mars/Neptune = Uranus/MC.
Empty 8th house
Ascendant Cancer (Saturn is in Cancer in 12th)
13. BENEDICT 15, 21 NOVEMBER 1854, 9H45 LMT GENUA
AC/MC: Mars and Pluto
Moon opp. to Saturn and square Neptune. Jupiter in the first house.
Outspoken earth and water person.
Apart from sun sextile Jupiter and Pluto on the IC he has 4 more success indicators.
Midpoints: Node = Neptune/Pluto, Jupiter = Uranus/Asc, Venus = Neptune/Pluto = Mercury.
Ascendant is Capricorn
14. PIUS 10, BORN 2ND JUNE 1835, 23 H LMT IN RIESE
AC/MC: Neptune and Chiron
Saturn on top, Neptune on the ascendant
Type: combination of fire and air
Midpoints: Sun = Jupiter/Uranus, Node = Neptune/Pluto, MC = Jupiter/Neptune Success indicators : 5
Ascendant Aquarius, Saturn on top in 9 (equal house) trine Sun
15.LEO 13 BORN 2ND MARCH 1810,AT 17H30 LMT IN CARPINETTO
Type: fire and water combination, lack of earth
Jupiter =Sun/Neptune, Uranus= Jupiter/MC
Neptunus on the IC
Mars and Jupiter in 8th house.
His Sun/Venus/Pluto conjunction squares both Saturn and Neptune
Jupiter and Neptunus are in sesquiquadrate aspect.
!9! success indicators
Ascendant Virgo square Saturn (about 7 d orb…)
16. JOHN 23, BORN 25TH NOVEMBER 1881 10H15 LMT IN SOTTO IL MONTE
Saturn and Neptune on the IC
Typical earth, no planets in the element air.
Uranus in the 8th .
6 success indicators
Midpoints: Sun = Jupiter/Uranus, Jupiter = Neptune/Pluto, Pluto = Neptune/Node.
Ascendant Capricorn