Pope Francis Collapses — Warned He’d Die By 2017

In August 2014, Pope Francis warned that he expected to have a brief stint as leader of the Catholic Church. He was addressing his many reforms as Pope when he added: "I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, so as not to think that I am somebody important — because I know this is going to last a short time, two or three years and then… to the house of the Father."

But insiders have said that Pope Francis was already talked out of retirement earlier this year! Jorge Bergoglio became the 266th pope on March 13, 2013 after the surprising resignation of Pope Benedict XVI — who's still alive! "Many officials in the Vatican believe that it's unseemly to have two living ex-Popes," said one source, noting that it had been six centuries since a Pope had retired previously.

"Also," the insider said, "Pope Francis was speaking of stepping down as he turned 80 years old., which seemed too much like a retirement age!" This shocking fall, however, has insiders worried that Pope Francis is now determined to follow Pope Benedict's example. "You can ask me: 'What if one day you don’t feel prepared to go on?’" said the pontiff of his predecessor. "I would do the same!"