Is Nostradamus right? These favorites to succeed Pope Francis fit his prophecies

Pope Francis' health has the Catholic world in suspense, even though the Vatican reported on Monday that he had shown a slight improvement despite the serious condition he has been in since February 14.

Francis' physical frailty has fueled interest in Nostradamus' prophecies about what might happen if the pope dies and the Catholic Church has to choose a new leader.

In his prophecies, Nostradamus allegedly devotes a section to the succession in the Vatican, following the death of a very old pope. Today, Francis is 88 years old and already surpasses the 85 years that John Paul II was when he died and Benedict XVI was when he resigned.

In this prediction, Nostradamus would have mentioned two possible scenarios that have been interpreted over the years in different ways: one, that a 'black' pope could arrive (which also has several interpretations) or the ascension of a young Italian pontiff.

Due to the uncertainty surrounding the Pope's respiratory illness, various names have begun to be mentioned of the cardinals who are eligible to take the 'Throne of Saint Peter' , and at least four of them fit the characteristics attributed to the French fortune teller.

In the case of the arrival of a 'black' pope , there are two interpretations, one of them is that this would have already been fulfilled with the papacy of Francis, since being Jesuits this group is known as black priests.

The other is that it refers to a possible appointment of an African-descended cardinal, and among the favourites to be the next pontiff are two African priests.

One of them is Peter Tukson, the 76-year-old cardinal of Ghana , who is recognized as one of the moderates, attached to social work and extremely diplomatic.

The other African cleric who could be considered is Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea, 79, who is one of the most staunch ultraconservatives and has been highly critical of Francis' reforms. However, his age could rule him out.

There are two Italian priests who are in the running to lead the Catholic Church. The one considered to have the best chance is Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70 , who is the Vatican's Secretary of State, which makes him a very powerful figure within the Curia, in addition to his diplomacy and his conciliatory profile between progressives and ultraconservatives.

There is also Cardinal Matteo Zuppi , 69, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference. His progressive profile with strong social commitments and his closeness to Pope Francis make him one of the strong candidates for the succession.

Other profiles that are among the possible successors of Francis include Luis Antonio Tagle, from the Philippines; Peter Erdo, from Hungary, and Malcolm Ranjith, from Sri Lanka.

According to Nostradamus' prophecy, such a designation would unleash a religious war that would lead to the apocalyptic, and by many expected, end of times.

Michel de Notre-Dame, known as Nostradamus, was born in France in 1503 and died in 1566. He was an apothecary and supposed soothsayer, author of the book ' The Prophecies ', which was published in 1555.

According to National Geographic , Nostradamus is remembered as an astronomer and soothsayer whose work attracted a legion of readers seeking his alleged predictions of events that occurred centuries after his death, which is, rather, a series of interpretations of a book written in an abstract and complicated manner that the author used to justify his alleged charlatanism.

Among the predictions that supposedly came true were the assassination of King Henry VI , the abolition of the monarchy in France, and the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Pope Francis has experienced a “slight improvement” during his hospitalization for bilateral pneumonia and the kidney failure that had been detected in him “is not a cause for concern,” the Vatican reported on Monday, February 24.

“The Holy Father’s clinical condition, in critical condition, is showing slight improvement. There have been no episodes of asthmatic respiratory crises today either. Some laboratory tests have improved,” the report said this afternoon.

The Vatican said the pontiff was diagnosed with mild kidney failure on Sunday "is not a cause for concern."

With information from EFE