The funeral of Pope Francis was a wonder of flamboyant colour, pomp and liturgy, wonderfully well produced and surprisingly upbeat with thoughts of happy ever after for the departed. The central figure presiding with remarkable stamina and gravitas was the 91 year old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, whose voice and hands remained steady through a long service.
The son of a carpenter, born 30 January 1934, he serves as the Dean of the College of Cardinals and as the most senior cardinal-bishop in attendance, he chaired the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis.
He has a stellium in Aquarius ranging from the Sun, through a Mercury, Saturn, Venus, North Node conjunction and later degree Mars; with a confident and controlling Jupiter opposition Uranus square Pluto. His Moon is in Leo probably opposition his Sun. His spiritual Neptune is strangely unaspected being only inconjunct his Sun.
His Mars in stubborn Aquarius is square Chiron Algol perhaps a hint of the rigidity of his views – which raised criticism when he supported the excommunication of a Brazilian mother and medical team who handled the abortion after a nine year old was raped by her stepfather.
He struck me as interesting astrologically because of his age and his handling of the funeral.
If a birth time of 22.30 is correct he has influential Pluto in his 10th which makes sense and a grandstanding 5th house full of Aquarius so designed for public performances. His 12th house Neptune is sextile his Midheaven but still fairly weak.
I was also impressed by Cardinal Re’s stamina and energy at his age. I was thinking watching him that the Catholic Church still puts on the greatest show on Earth, followed only by the British Royals. No wonder Trump, who appreciates razzle-dazzle more than anyone, wanted to be there. It was not to me a highly spiritual event, however, more of a major cultural one. I was only moved when they lifted the Pope’s casket for a last goodbye.
“His spiritual Neptune is strangely unaspected being only inconjunct his Sun.”
If you factor in Black Moon Lilith (i believe that is the glyph at 11 Cancer), his Neptune is exactly sextile it and, if I am not mistake, forms a yod with the Sun.
His Venus being exactly conjunct the North Node/Dragon’s head is also interesting. I would be very interested in his views of women and sexuality in general (two things I’d associate with Venus).
He reminded me of my grandfather who was a priest (he didn’t live till 91 though).
Cardinal Re deserves respect for his conduct of the ceremony at his advanced age.
Holy Hell, look at that chart!
Astro-Seeks seems to have the birth hour: 22:30. Makes him a Libra rising, which would fit.