It’s no coincidence that both Friedrich Merz and Pope Leo XIV were elected under the intense Mars–Pluto opposition of early May — Merz on the 6th, and the Pope on the 8th. This rare alignment often coincides with the rise of leaders during times of pressure, division, or deep tension — individuals who step into roles not to preserve the status quo, but to challenge it. These are figures shaped by conflict, or called to guide institutions through transformation, reckoning, or rebirth.

For Merz, the beginning was anything but smooth. His failure to secure a majority in the Bundestag’s first round of voting — a first in post-war German politics — set the tone. His election chart reflects exactly that: Mars opposite Pluto alongside the Saturn–Neptune conjunction paints the picture of an uphill political path. There’s visible tension, both internal and external. Symbolically, it suggests a mandate that may prove far heavier than anticipated — a leadership shaped by hard negotiation, fractured partnerships (within the CDU and the EU), and long-term redefinition. Friedrich Merz is stepping into a role that will likely demand unyielding discipline, adaptability, and readiness for long-term transformation, both for himself and Germany.

Pope Leo XIV’s election under the same Mars–Pluto tension carries parallel themes. As the first American pontiff — and a choice few saw coming — his rise signals a potential realignment within the Vatican. The astrological timing of his election suggests internal power shifts within the Vatican —behind-the-scenes power struggles, reform behind closed doors, and bold, perhaps divisive positions on global and doctrinal matters. This is the election chart of someone stepping into a deeply entrenched institution— one that resists change, yet urgently needs it.

These transits don’t suggest calm waters; they point to disruption, challenge, and the pressure to lead through uncertainty. It’s not the promise of an easy or long reign — but of one that could leave a deep and lasting mark. Leo XIV may be the one to confront unresolved legacies, bring hidden issues to light, and shift the Church’s direction in ways that may feel disruptive but necessary.

The same dynamic applies to Merz: both men are being asked to lead not as caretakers of the status quo, but as catalysts for change.

More on Friedrich Merz and Pope Leo XIV in my upcoming posts.

Image by the author
Copyright © 2025 Claire Berry