Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, a vocal champion of the world’s poor, dispossessed and disadvantaged, and a critic of corporate greed and social and economic inequality has died. He was a divisive force within the Vatican speaking out against extravagance and privilege, calling on church leaders to show humility. ‘His views riled significant numbers of cardinals and powerful Vatican officials, who often sought to frustrate Francis’s efforts to overhaul the ancient institutions of the church. But his compassion and humanity endeared him to millions around the world. His death is likely to exacerbate sharp divisions within the curia, with conservatives seeking to wrest control of the church away from reformers.’
His death came at 7.35 am this morning after a respiratory crisis in February that developed into double pneumonia; and he already had chronic lung disease with part of one lung removed as a young man.
He died at the exact moment Pluto was conjunct the Moon and the Midheaven with Algol exactly conjunct the Ascendant and Uranus. Amazingly precise.
Born 17 December 1936 9pm Buenos Airies, Argentina, he had a Sagittarius Sun and Jupiter in his hard-working 6th house with progressive, reforming Uranus in his 10th square Pluto on one side and Venus Moon in Aquarius on the other. His Sun was in a compassionate, idealistic square to Neptune opposition his Saturn in Pisces on the cusp of his religious 9th house. His Mars in Libra in his outspoken 3rd house was square Pluto giving him courage and determination.
He died as his Solar Arc Midheaven was passing over his Pluto and tr Saturn was one degree past the square to his Sun – and tr Jupiter was just into his 12th house of peace and contemplation.
His election chart, 13 March 2013 7.06pm had a Jupiterian yod inconjunct Saturn sextile Pluto so had the capacity to change society for the better. Transiting Jupiter was almost conjunct the Solar Arc Jupiter as he passed, amplifying his record; with tr Saturn having been square recently. More significantly tr Neptune was exactly conjunct the Mars and the Solar Arc Venus for disappointment and loss.
Tr Jupiter was moving across the Vatican 10th when he was elected hinting at a time of promise ahead. But his natal Saturn in Pisces opposition Neptune was square the Vatican Gemini New Moon suggesting his compassion and criticism would not go down well.
The Vatican, 7 June 1929 11 am Rome, is moving into a ferment of change with tr Uranus aiming to conjunct the Jupiter and Midheaven and square the Neptune through June into July.
See previous post: Pope Francis – facing Saturnine realities 20th February 2025.
The book was published in 2016 which was 3 years after Francis was elected as Pope. The dead Pope in the book Conclave was portrayed as a liberal and a reformer who had clashed with the traditionalists in the Vatican Curia. This picture does not fit Ratzinger who as Benedict XVI was generally regarded as a theological conservative. The Pope in the novel by Harris had specifically chosen to stay in the Domus Sanctae Marthae after his election rather than the papal palace. All these features are similar to the late Pope Francis
Marjorie,
Could you profile for us in a separate post the last two before Francis, Benedict and John Paul II? You are very good at point out the goods and the bads, and I assume it will be the same for the rules of those two.
Marjorie has already done posts on the two previous popes, Benedict XVI on 28th December 2022, days before his passing, and John Paul II on 18th May 2020. Found both of them through the search function.
Marjorie, as I understand it, the Papal Conclave must be held in between 15 and 20 days after the death of the Pope.
While we do not know the exact date or indeed the time it would start (so the placement of the Houses), is there anything in the patterns of the outer planets and perhaps even the signs of the inner planets that would give us an idea of the direction of travel for the Conclave.
I am reminded of the Italian saying that a fat pope is followed by a thin pope and vice versa, i.e. that each pope is markedly different from his immediate predecessor. Thus Francis’s down-to-earth folksy nature was a departure from Benedict XVI’s very bookish, theological bent.
So I expect the next Pope to be more theologically conservative than Francis.
The crucial question is, would the cardinals opt for a young Pope, who will preside over a long papacy, or will they opt for an older pope to preside over effectively an interregnum.
Wikipedia is saying 15-21 days giving us between 6th – 12th May.
I’m intrigued by this being a new Pope in the Pluto in Aqua period because its an air sign and rational, its secular and wants to make reforms.
On the flipside Neptune has just moved into Aries and that’s headfirst emotion! Saturn remains in Pisces until the end of May.
Most of the tough aspects are over by the time of the Conclave – Mars in Leo separating from its opposition with Pluto. The Sun is approaching a conjunction to Uranus but still 5degs to close on the 12th. Venus in Aries is direct and in close conjunction with Neptune and sextile Pluto at the beginning. On the 11th Mercury moves into Taurus and there is a full moon on the 12th but will the Conclave go all to the end. I’d assume there’s been a lot of preparation and politicking already
As a practising catholic but not a doctrinaire one I have mixed feelings towards this pope as I have to all of the recent popes. Everything you say about him quite correct, in that he has attempted to steer the catholic church to the outsiders and the disadvantaged, but so did all of the popes since John Paul II. However, he appeared to arouse hostility within the great and the good in the world of Catholicity, not for this, but for his casual approach to both the liturgy and the traditional teaching of the catholic church. For example, he has restricted the use of the Tridentine mass – a truly bizarre decision, which upset James Macmillan so much that he signed a petition, as I did, requesting a rethink. The rich musical liturgical tradition appears to have been junked in favour of the worst aspects of happy clappy land, especially in the Americas.
I forgot to mention the ongoing cover-ups of child abuse cases, one of which, I understand, involved our own Cardinal Nicols.
Some very interesting historical discussions by Larry the Cat.
Hugh and others might just concur…
“Actually I think the most recent time both the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury were simultaneously vacant was in 1556 when Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was executed for heresy.
The Papacy was also vacant for a period following the death of Pope Julius III in March 1555?”
“Larry the Cat @Number10cat
The last time the roles of Pope and Archbishop of Canterbury were both vacant at the same time was 333 years ago in 1691.”
I love these kinds of history!
Does that mean that the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and New Rome is currently the only head of an ancient church still in post?
PS: I know the Copts have their own Pope. It is a light hearted comment.
I was struck by that Pluto 10h – Moon in the 9h with Sun in the 12h. His past as Pope (Moon on the Midheaven in the religious house) now has his Sun is in the spirit world.
Francis was clearly the model for the dead Pope at the opening of Robert Harris novel, Conclave, who also happened to to die in rooms in the Domus Sanctae Marthae which he had chosen as a residence in preference to the Papal Palace. One wonders whether in the upcoming Papal election life will continue to follow art.
Is there a cardinal of the stature of Benitez?
One can hope life follows art.
Interesting. When I saw the movie, I interpreted the dead pope as being cast in the image of Benedict XVI (who also used to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae after his resignation)_ and the new Pope, Innocent, being modeled on Francis. Softly spoken, of an American background, etc.
His recent illness was at its zenith during the eclipse of a few weeks ago. Given the time span of eclipses, I wondered if it was still noticeably active at the time of his death?
Sad, but expected.
May he RIP.