As Catholics around the world mourn Pope Francis who has died at the age of of 88, cardinals will soon meet in the conclave to choose his successor.
But while the process of choosing a new pontiff has long been a notoriously private affair, a 430-year-old prophecy may have predicted the next pope.
A 1595 book, Prophecy of the Popes, written by Benedictine monk Arnold Wion, reported the message which had first been predicted by the Irish Saint Malachy, a 12th century Archbishop of Armagh.
It is a series of 112 short, cryptic phrases in Latin which appear to predict all the Catholic popes, beginning with Celestine II in 1143.
Some believe the manuscript will predict the next pontiff - but on a more worrying note, it could also contain a terrifying warning for humanity that some believe is a signal for the end of the world.
The final entry in the manuscript says the last pope will be 'Peter the Roman' in 2027 - but beyond that, no one is predicted to succeed him.
According to the final entry the 'last pope' will preside over the church during a time of great turmoil, culminating in the destruction of Rome and the end of the papacy.
It reads: 'Peter the Roman who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations, and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The End.'
The prediction is made all the more chilling as out of the nine frontrunners set to succeed Pope Francis, three are named Peter, according to Reuters.
As Pope Francis passed away following a stroke on Easter Monday at the age of 88, a 1000-year-old prophecy has supposedly predicted the next pope
ome had previously tried to connect Pope Francis to the prophecy of Peter the Roman due to his Italian heritage and his birth name Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone.
However, most scholars aren't convinced because he wasn't originally named Peter, therefore they can't see the connection to the name.
It comes after astrologists are claiming that Nostradamus made a prediction about his death which suggested the Catholic church's standing in the world could be significantly weakened.
Writing in Les Prophéties in 1555, French astrologer Michel de Nostredame, better known as Nostradamus issued a number of grim prophecies for the future of humanity including 'cruel wars', natural disasters and the return of the plague.
Within his gloomy outlook was the death of a 'very old' Pope - as well as stark warning about the weakening of the Catholic Church.
Writing in his famed book of prophecies, the astrologer wrote: 'Through the death of a very old Pontiff / A Roman of good age will be elected / Of him it will be said that he weakens his seat / But long will he sit and in mordant activity.'
Nostradamus also hinted at details of the successor of Pope Francis, writing, 'A young man of dark skin with the help of the great king will deliver the purse to another of red colour.'
The prophecies have long been open to interpretation with many claiming they shouldn't be taken too literally. However in light of Pope Francis's death, some have interpreted the words to signify a shift in leadership within the Catholic Church.
The book, know as Prophecy of the Popes, was first published in 1595 by Benedictine monk Arnold Wion, who attributed the prophecy to the Irish Saint Malachy, a 12th-century Archbishop of Armagh
Pope Francis on the main balcony of St. Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations on Sunday
The astrologer has previously been credited with accurately predicting countless major world events, including the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Covid pandemic.
Nostradamus's forecast may come as little surprise to many, as the Pope has suffered a number of concerning health issues over the last year.
Francis was first hospitalised on 14 February and was forced to cancel a number of appearances, including his regular weekly prayer to pilgrims in St Peter's Square, leaving many worried about his mortality.
Over the last year, the Pope had faced a number of set backs in his health, including a abdominal hernia and two falls.
His final illness came after he was hospitalised for three days in March 2023 with bronchitis.
The Vatican announced that Pope Francis had died on Easter Monday, having suffered pneumonia in both lungs in the lead up to his passing.
The Conclave - where cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor - will not happen for at least 15 days.
Francis's body will lie in state in St Peter's Basilica during an official mourning period, and then - in contrast to most of his predecessors - he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood.
Francis just greeted Catholic faithful who had gathered to see him at St Peter's Square on Easter Sunday.
Writing in the esteemed Les Prophéties, French astrologer Nostradamus, issued a number of grim predictions for the year ahead, including 'cruel wars', natural disasters and the return of the plague (Nostradamus pictured)
Masses of faithful gathered Sunday under hazy skies in the sprawling plaza
He delivered his 'Urbi et Orbi' benediction from a balcony overlooking the square following mass to mark the high holiday.
On his way to the basilica, Francis met briefly with US Vice President JD Vance, who was spending Easter in Rome with his family. The Vatican said the encounter was 'brief' and lasted a few minutes.
Francis became the first pope from outside Europe in 1,300 years when he was chosen to replace the retiring Pope Benedict XVI.
Despite several previous health issues and reduced mobility caused in part by his advancing years and expanding waistline, Francis had kept up a busy schedule until his final weeks.
Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, will be remembered for his comparatively liberal attitudes on some subjects that made him both popular and controversial.
The death of the pope is just one of a plethora of Nostradamus's grim predictions for 2025.
The mystic predicted that 2025 would see European powers clash with England, devastating the country and spawning new 'foes'.
Nostradamus also expected 2025 to bring pioneering advances in medicine but that England will be faced yet again with the plague, as well as battle devastating wars.
'When those from the lands of Europe, see England set up her throne behind. Her flanks, there will be cruel wars. The kingdom will be marked by wars so cruel, foes from within and without will arise.'
Many also believe the oracle has predicted the return on the 17th century plague in the words: 'A great pestilence from the past returns, no enemy more deadly under the skies.'
In an even more worrying prediction, he suggested next year would see a 'fireball from the cosmos' devastate the earth.
'From the cosmos, a fireball will rise, a harbinger of fate, the world pleads. Science and fate in a cosmic dance, the fate of the Earth, a second chance.'
Though it is possible human extinction will result in the Earth's 'second chance', and that the earth will recover from people's exploitation of resources.
He also anticipated that climate change might cause natural disasters in Brazil, home to the Amazon rainforest.
He went on: 'Garden of the world near the new city, In the path of the hollow mountains: It will be seized and plunged into the tub, forced to drink waters poisoned by sulphur.'
Nostradamus had prophesied that an extended war through 2024, like the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, would come to an end next year when the armies are spent.
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