The health of Pope Francis has kept the Catholic world in suspense, despite the Vatican reporting on Monday that he has shown slight improvement within the severity of his condition since February 14. Francis's physical fragility has sparked interest in Nostradamus's prophecies regarding what might happen if the pope were to pass away and the Catholic Church had to elect a new leader.
Nostradamus reportedly dedicated a section to the succession in the Vatican, derived from the death of a very old pope. Currently, at 88 years old, Francis has surpassed the age of John Paul II and Benedict XVI at crucial moments. In his prophecies, two possible scenarios are mentioned that have been interpreted in various ways: the arrival of a 'black' pope or the ascension of a young Italian pontiff.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the pope's respiratory illnesses, various names of eligible cardinals to take the 'Throne of St. Peter' have started to emerge. At least four of them fit the characteristics attributed to the French seer. Among them are Peter Turkson, cardinal from Ghana, and Robert Sarah, cardinal from Guinea, with different profiles that could be considered for the succession.
Other candidates who could succeed Francis include Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines, Peter Erdo from Hungary, and Malcolm Ranjith from Sri Lanka. The possible designation according to Nostradamus's prophecy would unleash a religious war that, according to some interpretations, could lead to the apocalyptic end of times.
Michel de Notre-Dame, known as Nostradamus, was a pharmacist and alleged seer author of the book 'The Prophecies'. Born in 1503 in France, he is remembered for his supposed predictions that have been the subject of multiple interpretations. Regarding the health status of Pope Francis, he has experienced a "slight improvement" during his hospitalization for bilateral pneumonia and renal failure, which, according to the Vatican, is not concerning. No episodes of asthmatic respiratory crises have been reported today.
