Home Vedic Venue eMagazine Current FAQs Contact Us Links

Pope Francis I

by Steven Stuckey

With a puff of white smoke, on March 13^th at 7:06 PM local time, followed by the ringing of bells, the Vatican announced to the more than one billion faithful Catholics and the rest of the world, the voting results of the 2013 Papal Conclave. The decision was reached on the second day of balloting, on the fifth vote, with more than 78% of the cardinal-electors agreeing in favor of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a Jesuit and the Cardinal and Arch Bishop of Argentina. Bergoglio, already widely known in Argentina as a humble and devoted man from simple origins, stepped to the balcony of St. Peter�s Basilica as Pope Francis I, a papal name he chose over the suggestions from cardinals that he pick either Adrian VII or Clement XV.

The time of election occurred as Kanya or Virgo (the Virgin) was rising in the east, while the newly formed crescent Moon and Mars were setting in Meena or Pisces, sign of the Fish and symbol of the Christ. Accompanying the Moon was the comet Pan-STAARS, having become

visible only the day before in the northern hemisphere. As if the configurations and omens above were not enough to denote something special, there were earthquake rumblings and lightning strikes at the Vatican in the days before the Conclave.

Figure 1

Less than a week later, on March 19^th @ 9:30 AM, the Pope was formerly installed as the head of the Catholic Church, becoming both the first Jesuit as well as the first Pope from Latin America to hold the post. Jupiter rises precisely in the chart, leading to speculation that the time may have been chosen by astrologers at the Vatican.

The installation chart - Figure 2

Although the Church has always denied any involvement with astrology or other occult sciences, it has long been suspected that the Vatican library holds the world�s biggest collection of esoteric literature. This, in addition to recent statements by the Vatican�s official astronomer expressing a belief in extra-terrestrial life, has left many feeling skeptical of the Church�s long held stance against astrology.

Pope Francis entered the Papacy after the unexpected and suspicious resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, for supposed health reasons. With a dark cloud hanging over the Church regarding shady financial dealings from money-laundering and bribes to political parties, and the unpunished sexual improprieties of many priests throughout the world, the new Pope obviously has his work cut out for him. Pope Benedict himself, although not widely known, will continue to live at the Vatican as a protection against any possible future prosecution for failing to take action against priests involved in child abuse in the past.

Pope Francis was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 17, 1936 @ 9:00 PM ADT (Atlantic Daylight Time). The time comes from a copy of his birth certificate obtained by Argentinian astrologer Claudia Rizzi. His father was an immigrant to Latin American from northern Italy, while his mother�s origins are also from northern Italy. His Rashi and Navamsa charts are shown in Figure #3.

Figure 3

He has a grouping of planets in Sagittarius in the 7^th house of the wife and sexual relations. Jupiter here forms a Hamsa Yoga which gives him many good qualities according to classical texts, such as being virtuous and pure in mind, having a pleasing and graceful body, and being intent on acquiring knowledge through the study of sacred scriptures. Jupiter is associating with Mercury, lord of the Lagna, and both in turn aspect the Lagna, blessing the overall health and longevity. Mercury and Jupiter, as karakas or indictors of intelligence and wisdom, also confer capabilities for making good judgments and giving excellent advice or counsel. Jupiter�s occupation of Mula Nakshatra may also enhance his capability for spiritual judgment and getting to the �root� of the matter. Mercury/Jupiter in Sag is gifted in ritualistic performance and the chanting of mantras, so again, he has made good use of these planets in his chosen vocation. Both planets are occupying their signs of exaltation in the Navamsa chakra, while Jupiter is in the 5^th house of intelligence and advice giving, leaving us no doubt that he is quite capable of fulfilling his many duties as Pope.

He was ordained as a priest on December 13, 1969 while running the Jupiter/Mercury period and was elected as Pope on March 13, 2013 while in the Mercury/Jupiter period. So it�s evident that these two planets have much to do with his religious life. In addition, he attended seminary school while in the Mercury sub-period of Rahu, becoming a Jesuit on March 11, 1958, under Ketu sub period. His natal Ketu in the first house inclines him to mysticism and its ruler Mercury also associates with Jupiter, the 10^th lord of career, in its turn, while Ketu receives the aspects of both Jupiter and Mercury. The transiting Ketu at the time of taking up the Jesuit order was near exact at his Midheaven, indicating his choice of a mystical career and was again exact at his Lagna degree when he took his �perpetual vows� as a Jesuit priest on April 22, 1973.

He taught classes in both literature and psychology from 1964 to 1966, while running the Jupiter/Jupiter period which began on October 14, 1964 and ended December 2, 1966. Jupiter, the lord of his 10^th house shows a vocation as a teacher and counselor. Jupiter and especially a natal Jupiter/Mercury connection, inclines one to both literature and fine music (he is known to be a lover of the opera).

Of course this chart has many difficulties as well. Jupiter and Mercury, as lords of two Kendra�s, get a malefic status. Jupiter is too close to the Sun by degree, so gets combusted. Sun is a natural malefic and also becomes a temporal malefic by its rulership of the 3^rd house. Rahu is a natural malefic and associates closely with the Sun and all 7^th house planets. Mars is the worst malefic for Gemini Lagna and gives its full aspect to the 7^th house, causing Kuja Dosha and naturally it also aspects Jupiter, the 7^th lord. These powerful combinations have obviously spoiled his chances for marriage and would also tend to attract egotistical and dominating partners. Had he married, there probably would have been divorce.

Classical texts seem to agree that Hamsa Yoga also carries with it an insatiable sex drive. Rahu tends to increase this drive and Mars� aspect to the 7^th house certainly doesn�t put out the fire. His Moon and Venus also occupy the 8^th house, which rules over the external genitalia, and whose natural sign from Aries, is Scorpio. Moon and Venus in Capricorn are described as having a strong libidinous drive in the Saravali and Brihat Jataka, while Mars in Virgo is also described as being very fond of sexual union. He was a celibate student from the age of nineteen to about twenty-two while in seminary school, but ultimately did not take the vows of priesthood until he was thirty-three. It is unclear if he remained as a celibate in those years in-between.

Often, Saturn plays a role in celibate life, especially by its aspect on the Moon and Venus, but here there is no aspect, and in fact Saturn aspects no planets in the chart, while the Moon, Venus and Mars also receive no aspects. This does make one wonder how he has maintained celibacy for many years. Saturn is powerfully placed in the 9^th house of Dharma, in its Mulatrikona sign of Aquarius, also indicating a priestly nature. Saturn means following the letter of the law in religious principles. Since the Moon and Venus have no aspects to further condition their nature, then they are powerfully influenced by Saturn, who becomes the dispositor of both planets by his rulerhip of Capricorn. Saturn also occupies the nakshatra of Purva Bhadrapada, while the Moon and Venus are in Shravana and Jupiter of course occupies Mula. All the above nakshatras have as their primary quality, the mode of satwa. These more subtle placements, along with his strong Sagittarian nature, that is always striving to do the �right thing�, may have helped him in his darker hours.

Additionally, Mercury and Jupiter in the 7^th house have helped toward maintaining celibacy, as this combination is much more interested in the pursuit of knowledge rather than sexual interests, especially Mercury, who is given the status of a �eunuch� in sexual affairs. Mercury occupies the 7^th house in Navamsa in the sign of Virgo, so again this idea is strongly reinforced. That he became ordained as a priest in the Jupiter/Mercury period is very telling as Jupiter and Mercury are the rulers of the 7^th house in the Rashi and Navamsa respectively. When a man formally enters the priesthood, he actually takes the Church as his spouse. I believe the chart clearly indicates this is what happened.

Pope Francis seems to be known first and foremost as a humble man. Often we think of Saturn as ruling humility, as Saturn is usually strong in charts of persons who have taken strict vows of tapasya or austerity. Of course, living a simple life may not necessarily bring about real humility, just as a vow of celibacy may not really disengage one�s focus on sex. Saturn, although well placed in the 9^th house, is not in a Kendra, where it would have more power over the chart, and does not aspect the luminaries or the Lagna lord.

Strong angular Sagittarian placements, especially the Sun and Jupiter, can bring about a sense of entitlement and elitism, and these placements are further fueled by Rahu and Mars. Therefore this chart has a strong �enjoyment� propensity. Saturn at least can help to curb the tendency of �overdoing it� by minimizing and disciplining such tendencies, but here Saturn is not doing that. Mars on the other hand creates a lot of trouble, as the 6^th lord in the 4^th. The 4^th house is the center and heart of the chart and Mars here causes much suffering. In this case, it may have unbalanced the whole chart in some ways. So my guess is that the Pope has had a chance to really see into his own weaknesses and his cravings for material life, and in so doing is very familiar with the spiritual battle regarding things of the flesh. These insights, through suffering, can often bring about real humility, which one gets after seeing that he has all the same foibles as every other human being. The Mars aspect on his Sagittarius planets has also made him a warrior of sorts, and I think he identifies with this, which may be evident in his insisting on the name of Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi, who fought as a soldier in his youth. His following the Jesuit path may also have the same underlying theme, as Jesuits were known as �God�s Marines� because of founder Ignatius Loyola�s military background.

Possibly another contributor to his humility is a special condition of his Moon, found in a Dhurdhura Yoga, i.e. surrounded on both sides by planets. In the Jataka Parijata it states, �The person at birth whose Moon is between Saturn and Jupiter, will be comfortable, possessed of humility, knowledge, learning, beauty and worth, owning much wealth and of a conciliatory conduct.�

We may also find the Pope in both the election and installation charts above represented by Jupiter in Taurus in the nakshatra of Rohini. Jupiter occupies the 9^th house of the �clergy� in the election chart and as it rises exactly in the installation chart, we may also take it as representing the Pope himself. Jupiter here may indicate both the nature of the Pope and the issues he will deal with while occupying his office. Jupiter is in exact conjunction with Rohini�s brightest star, Aldebaran, as it was on the Pope�s birthday on December 17, 2012. Rohini�s ruling deities are Prajapati and Brahma, both connected to the creative principle of life. Jupiter/Rohini rises in the installation chart, while Mars, ruling the 7^th house of marriage and sex, occupies the 11^th house with Venus and the Sun. The 11^th house rules the legislative department in a mundane chart, so could reflect the policy makers of the Catholic Church.

In the election chart, Mars and Moon occupy the 7^th house, while the 7^th lord Jupiter is in the 9^th of clergy and legal matters so may indicate the hand of the Pope involved in difficult 7^th house significations (marriage, international politics and disputes etc). This may have already played out in some way, as British Prime Minister David Cameron and Queen Elizabeth did not attend the Pope�s installation ceremony. This was seen as a snub by the UK, and rumors are that the ongoing dispute with Argentina over the

Falkland Islands was the reason, after the Pope received a request by Argentinian President Christina Kirchner to intervene in the affair. This may be typical of things to come during the Pope's administration. Mars as lord of the 8^th house of scandals in the 7^th house of sex in the election chart, and Jupiter ruling the 8^th of the installation chart and occupying the 1^st, may also indicate that there are more sex related troubles ahead for the Church.

(Vatican City Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0
URL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Free_Documentation_License)

Although Pope Francis is known for his general conservative stance (Sun/Jupiter in Sagittarius) regarding the celibacy requirement for priests, he has also expressed some flexibility in the matter and cited as an example the priests of the Eastern Rites Church, who are allowed to marry in some cases. Although it is doubtful he will budge on gay marriage, he also had previously proposed acceptance by the Church for civil marriages for gays. This ability to go beyond conventional bounds may be seen as the influence of Rahu on his Sag planets.

The Pope, although not a calculating man, and possessed of a generosity of spirit, may eventually find himself in trouble with the powerful controlling elements within the Church, who are symbolized by the Sun/Jupiter/Rahu conjunction aspected by Mars in his natal chart. Hopefully he will exhibit the spiritual strength to stand up to the challenge.

Steven Stuckey's Biography:

Steven Stuckey (Shastrakara das) began his study of Astrology in 1968. He started teaching classes in both western sidereal and Jyotish techniques in 1979 and was instrumental in the initial introduction of Jyotish in the United States. He currently resides in southern Oregon where he continues to teach and advise an international clientele.

Contact Information:
He may be reached by email at: [email protected]

URL Link to the source of the Pope Francis image Wikipedia - Licen�a Creative Commons Atribui��o 3.0 Brasil



Join Our Email List Email:

For Email Marketing you can trust

Any and all views or opinions presented in the emagazine, Jyotish Star are solely those of the contributing author and do not necessarily represent those of the Jyotish Star, its staff, other presenters or advertisers. All content is presented, and intended for your pleasure, information, entertainment and enjoyment. We make no claims as to the correctness of content, nor do we agree or disagree with the statements and writings of contributors.