A 900-year-old Vatican prophecy book has been gaining interest for its cryptic predictions about the end times and papal lineage.

The mysterious illustrated book alleges that judgement day will happen in 2027. As Pope Francis faces ill health, some believe the prophecy could be revealed.

The 12th Century text known as the ‘Prophecy of Popes’ is attributed to Saint Malach. It contains 112 short, cryptic messages supposedly relating to each future pope.  

Scholars have found accuracies leading up to 1590 – after this, some of the links become more tenuous.

One passage, attributed to Pope Sixtus, reads: “Axle in the middle of a sign”.

Some have interpreted this to mean he will be the pope in the ‘middle’ of the papal lineage. As he took the papacy 442 after the first pope to be in the role, another 442 years would mean the ‘final’ pope comes in the year 2027.

According to the book, this final pope will reign in a time of turmoil that sees the destruction of Rome.

The exact origins of the prophecy book are unclear – with some believing it could be a forgery.  

Pope Francis is currently in hospital for a third week with double pneumonia. The Vatican says he is alert and eating normally, but breathing with a ventillator between meals. 

In the Bible, Matthew 24: 36-37 says of the second coming: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”