From Nostradamus to Malachy: Ancient prophecies hint at who could succeed Pope Francis
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died early on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, aged 88. The Vatican confirmed his passing was due to 'irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse' following a stroke. He had fallen into a coma hours earlier.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell made the formal announcement from Vatican TV, 'Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.'
Francis was the first
pope from the Americas
, chosen in 2013, and widely admired for his humility, social outreach, and attempts at internal Church reform.
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His death comes after a year marked by repeated health issues, including an abdominal hernia, bronchitis, and two hospitalisations—one as recently as February, when he remained under care for five weeks. He had also experienced two public falls and persistent respiratory problems.
Just a day before his death, he had appeared at the Vatican for Easter Sunday Mass, delivering his traditional 'Urbi et Orbi' benediction from the balcony above St Peter's Square.
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Nostradamus and the death of the 'Old Pontiff'
What might have remained a solemn religious event took on an additional layer of intrigue. The death of Pope Francis appears to match a prophecy from 1555 by Michel de Nostredame—better known as Nostradamus.
In his book Les Prophéties, he 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.'
Stargazers and amateur scholars had long speculated that the 'very old Pontiff' might refer to Francis, especially after his declining health in recent years. The reference to a 'Roman of good age' has now drawn attention to the upcoming papal conclave.
Peter the Roman and the final Pope?
Speculation hasn't ended with Nostradamus. A separate 900-year-old text, known as the Prophecy of the Popes and attributed to Saint Malachy, predicts a final pope called 'Peter the Roman.' According to the prophecy's last passage:
'In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End.'
Some had previously linked Pope Francis to this cryptic figure due to his birth name—Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone—and his Italian roots. Others now believe the next pontiff could fulfil the prophecy.
While experts have questioned the authenticity of the Prophecy of the Popes, it continues to fuel speculation, particularly as the Church prepares for its next leader.
What happens next?
According to Vatican protocol, the
College of Cardinals
will not convene for a conclave until at least 15 days after the Pope's death. During this time, his body will lie in state at St Peter's Basilica for public viewing and prayers.
In a rare move, Pope Francis will be buried not in the traditional Vatican grottoes but at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome's Esquilino district. He had often visited the site in private prayer.
The coming conclave will be closely watched. Attention is already turning to possible successors, with rumours circulating about potential candidates from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The search for the new Pope, especially amid apocalyptic prophecies, has given the transition an even more charged atmosphere.
2025: A year of ominous predictions
Francis' death also coincides with broader predictions made by Nostradamus for 2025. Among them: a new plague, conflict between European powers and England, and catastrophic natural disasters in Brazil. In one of his more chilling quatrains, he warned:
'A great pestilence from the past returns,
No enemy more deadly under the skies.'
He also wrote of a celestial 'fireball' and increased global instability.
While many dismiss these as vague or coincidental, others see eerie parallels in today's unrest and ecological concerns. The death of a world religious leader only deepens the atmosphere of uncertainty.
Whether seen through the lens of prophecy or faith, Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy that reshaped the modern papacy. He championed the poor, engaged in interfaith dialogue, and took bold stances on climate change and migration. He often defied tradition, choosing simplicity over splendour, and directness over diplomacy.
Now, as the world mourns and the Church prepares for its next chapter, eyes are on Rome—not just for the funeral rites, but for what comes next in a time that already feels steeped in history.
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