Nostradamus 'predicted' who the next Pope will be 500 years before Pope Francis' death

French astrologer Nostradamus made some eerie predictions about the leader of the Catholic church that are coming to light again in the wake of Pope Francis' death.

Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday (April 21), following a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure.

The pope had recently been struggling with his health, having been hospitalized earlier this year with an infection which developed into double pneumonia.

In a statement announcing his death, Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell said: “With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.″

The death of Pope Francis prompted some fans of the unexplained to start digging into the predictions of Nostradamus, who lived in the 1500s, and has previously been credited with predicting global events such as the Covid-19 outbreak and the shooting of President John F Kennedy.

Nostradamus has been credited with predicting numerous world events (Jean-Patrick DEYA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

One prediction attributed to the astrologer can be linked to the leader of the Catholic Church, as it references a 'Pontiff' - the formal term for the Pope.

The prediction states: “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 went on to share further claims, which may offer some insight into who will be the next pope.

He wrote: “A young man of dark skin with the help of the great king will deliver the purse to another of red color."

Though Nostradamus might have had his ideas about the new leader, we will not know who will take over from Pope Francis until the conclusion of the conclave - the process of choosing the new pope.

Cardinals will choose who will take over from Pope Francis (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

The meeting involves cardinals under the age of 80 who come together from all over the world to cast their vote for the new head of the Catholic church.

Once the conclave begins, the cardinals will not emerge until a new Pope has been determined.

Those voting will not be able to use phones, or have access to the internet or to newspapers.

Once the cardinals have reached a decision, the cards and the tally sheets used during the vote are placed into a stove and burned to produce white smoke, which confirms to the outside world that the new leader has been selected.