Gryphon Astrology Blog

As popes go, Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) is a controversial figure. He is unapologetically traditionalist in his doctrine and fairly blunt in his words. More than that, however, he is highly intellectual in his words and written works and as such is apt to be misunderstood by the masses. As an astrologer, this is quite interesting, and I wanted to find out more about Pope Benedict’s astrological indicators. Today, we will look at:

1. Indications of becoming Pope in Benedict’s natal horoscope (Part I),
2. Predicting when Benedict might become Pope (Part II), and
3. Predicting the time of Benedict’s speech about Islam and its ensuing outcry (Part III).

Benedict’s horoscope is truly fascinating, and highly instructive to those, like myself, who are fascinated by indications of spiritual vocations in the horoscope. Beyond that, however, I have tried to find out what made Benedict’s horoscope different from any other Catholic clergyman, such that we would see indications of the Papal office. I also like numbers, so I was curious what were the chances that someone could have this fascinating horoscope or at least its salient features.

We immediately note the presence of Jupiter in Pisces on the Ascendant. Jupiter rules religion and the clergy, and here it is in its own sign of Pisces. This Jupiter is by far the strongest planet in the chart, as it is both in its own sign and on the Ascendant, from which position it can strongly influence the native’s life. However, not everyone with Jupiter in Pisces on the Ascendant becomes Pope, or even enters the clergy. Approximately .69% of the world’s population has this combination with Jupiter on the Ascendant in Pisces - that is, 41.4 million people. Thus, we have to look for more features that make Benedict’s horoscope unique. Jupiter rules the 9th house of religion (as well as the 10th house of fame); only 3,472,222 people in the world have this factor in their horoscopes as well.

Planets in a given house are extremely important to the affairs of that house. In Benedict’s horoscope, Saturn is placed just inside the 9th house of religion, and it is conjunct the Royal star Antares. Saturn is not very strong in this horoscope, as it does not have much essential dignity in 6 Sagittarius, and of course, it is cadent. However, this Royal Saturn also closely aspects the Part of Fortune at 8 Virgo (no, I do not reverse the formula for the Part of Fortune by night). Any planet aspecting the Part of Fortune will have a great deal to do with the quality of the fortune and the heights reached by the native.

In Benedict’s horoscope, Saturn is disposited by this ultra-religious Jupiter in the Ascendant. Now we are down to about 120 people in the whole world who have a similar configuration. Since most of them are inherently not in a position to become Pope (too young, too old, female, not Catholic, etc.), we can start to appreciate the uniqueness of this configuration in Benedict’s horoscope. We can also appreciate the importance of being born into the right conditions for our fate. To illustrate, Bill Gates does have the horoscope of someone who would become financially successful, but only because he was born into a very wealthy and influential upper class family in the richest country in the world, could he amass the fortune that he did. Others in the world have a very similar chart to his, but if they are rickshaw pullers somewhere in Asia, maybe they will own their own rickshaw business someday. Context is everything.

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