Nostradamus's eerie prediction about the future of Pope Francis is unearthed after Vatican revealed he was in a 'critical' condition

A chilling prediction made by 16th century astrologer Nostradamus has been unearthed after the Vatican revealed Pope Francis was in 'critical' condition. Michel de Nostredame, better known as Nostradamus, supposedly predicted the fate of the Pope in an unearthed quote from his book 'Les Propheties', which was published in 1555.

He predicted that Pope Francis, the current religious head for the Catholic Church could have a replacement. In prophecies written nearly 500 years ago, Nostradamus warned of the 'death of a very old Pontiff.'. 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 see… but long will he sit and in biting activity.'.

The prophecies have long been open to interpretation with many claiming they shouldn't be taken too literally. However, they have been seen in a new light since the Vatican revealed the current Pope is in 'critical' condition, though later had a 'peaceful night'.

Another prophecy, attributed to 12th-century Irish Saint Malachy the French prophet referenced 'the end'. It comes as the Vatican announced that the Pope was in a critical condition with a complex lung infection. Nostradamus issued a chilling warning about the future of Pope Francis and the Catholic Church.

He wrote: 'In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit 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.'.

Some think this means a change of pope, potentially one taking the name Peter, could spell the end of the world. Meanwhile, the current pope rested during a peaceful night after a respiratory crisis and blood transfusions, the Vatican said on Sunday. The pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on February 14 after experiencing difficulty breathing for several days and subsequently had pneumonia diagnosed in both lungs.

On Saturday he suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection. The pope received 'high flows' of oxygen to help him breathe and also had blood transfusions for the first time. Tests had shown that the pope had low counts of platelets, which are needed for clotting, the Vatican said in a late update.

The statement on Saturday also said that the pontiff 'continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday'. Baba Vanga, who died in August 1996, is even said to have predicted her own death. 2019: DOOM FOR TRUMP AND PUTIN.

Prediction: Baba Vanga's 2019 forecasts were very similar to her 2020 and 2021 predictions, foreseeing illness for Trump and an assassination attempt against Putin. She also predicted a European economic collapse. Result: Trump and Putin have both survived although Trump did catch coronavirus in October 2020. Europe's economy has taken a huge hit due to Covid this year.

2018: RISE OF CHINA. Prediction: China would become the next great superpower and a new form of energy would emerge on Venus. Result: China's status as a global power has risen since Baba Vanga's death, but there is no reason to single out 2018. There was no major discovery on Venus.

2017: THE END OF AMERICA. Prediction: America's 44th president would be the last one. According to some versions, she also predicted he would be black. Result: Barack Obama was indeed the first African-American president. But Donald Trump became the 45th president in January 2017.

2016: THE END OF EUROPE. Prediction: The mystic pointed to 2016 as the year that Europe would 'cease to exist', making a dire prediction of 'empty spaces and wasteland, nearly devoid of any form of life'. Result: Europe was rattled by the 2016 Brexit result but 'cease to exist' is an extreme interpretation.

2004: BOXING DAY TSUNAMI. Prediction: 'A huge wave will cover a big coast covered with people and towns, and everything will disappear beneath the water. Everything will melt, just like ice.'. Result: The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami brought devastation to Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and other countries, killing more than 230,000.

2001: 9/11 ATTACKS. Prediction: Baba Vanga predicted 'horror' for the US, warning in 1989 that 'the American brethren will fall after being attacked by the steel birds'. Result: Four hijacked planes brought terror to America on 9/11, killing nearly 3,000 people. 'Steel birds' could be read as a reference to the jets.

1979: RISE OF RUSSIA. Prediction: In 1979, Baba Vanga predicted a future Russian dominance under 'Vladimir's glory' in which the country would become 'lord of the world'. Result: Russia does have a strongman leader called Vladimir, but Moscow has lost its status as a superpower since 1979.