Pope-ularity contest: Bookies set odds for conclave candidates
As the conclave for a new Pope is set to begin on May 7, bookies are releasing their odds for which candidate will win out.
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Amid papal politics, smoking chimneys and cloistered Cardinals, people around the world are placing bets on who they think the next pontiff could be.
While the Vatican may predate modern bookies, it certainly doesn’t predate gambling - and betting on conclaves is one of the earliest known examples of electoral gambling, recorded as early as 1503.
So as the Vatican prepares for its next conclave on May 7, so too do bookies around the world. The UK is no exception, where gamblers' interest in the future papal rivals even Formula 1 and the Europa League on betting sites.
Read More: Firefighters install chimney over Sistine Chapel ahead of conclave to elect new pope
While the late Pope Francis urged Catholic followers to not engage with "financial speculation", and some of the 1.4 billion Catholics may not appreciate the death of their papal being leveraged for a quick buck, plenty of betting houses are cashing in on the opportunity.
But it's not just betting houses making light of the papal race. An online conclave simulator called Fantapapa has enjoyed a huge upswing in popularity, with 60,000 new users.
The fantasy league-style game lets users select 11 Cardinals, similar to a football team, to optimise their chances of winning "eternal glory".
So, whether you're a casual spectator hosting a sweepstake with friends, a Fantapapa fanatic, or someone looking to make the big bucks off the next Pope, here's our guide to some of the most prominent candidates, as well as their odds at some of Britain's biggest betting houses.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70
William Hill: 9/4
Ladbrokes: 5/2
Paddypower: 5/2
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, a longtime Vatican diplomat and Vatican secretary of state, is the favourite to become the next Pope.
Commonly known as Pope Francis’ second in command, Cardinal Parolin is considered to be a pragmatic and steady hand for the Catholic Church.
From the Veneto region of northern Italy, a small and deeply religious area of the country, Cardinal Parolin has largely moderate politics and is rarely outspoken on key issues.
While Cardinal Parolin’s moderate and diplomatic reputation had him well-placed to put out fires when Pope Francis spoke candidly in public, he isn’t without his own controversies.
As well as being accused of “mishandling” child abuse claims alongside Cardinal Tagle, Cardinal Parolin was associated with the 2019 embezzlement scandal surrounding Cardinal Becciu.
Cardinal Parolin was not accused of any direct wrongdoing in the scandal, but he was overseeing the Vatican ministry involved in the scandal.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67
William Hill: 3/1
Ladbrokes: 3/1
Paddypower: 3/1
Cardinal Tagle, known by the nickname “Chito”, is emerging as one of the favourites to take over the papacy from Pope Francis.
Known as the ‘karaoke priest’, the Philippine Cardinal is known for his progressive stance on social issues, similar to Pope Francis.
As well as championing the LGBTQ+ community, he has been outspoken against the Catholic Church’s previous discrimination against single mothers and divorced Catholics.
Many commentators believe Cardinal Tagle is the key to reconnecting with younger generations, and his friends praise his warmth and approachability.
However, alongside Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Tagle was accused of “mishandling” child sex abuse claims in the Church, with American watchdog Bishop Accountability accusing the pair of withholding incriminating Church records.
If elected, Cardinal Tagle would be the first Asian Pope in modern history.
Cardinal Robert Sarah, 79
William Hill: 8/1
Ladbrokes: 12/1
Paddypower: 10/1
Cardinal Robert Sarah from Guinea isn't a public favourite to become the next Pope, but enjoys strong support from the Church's conservative wing as one of Pope Francis' loudest critics.
At 79, Cardinal Sarah is one of the oldest candidates running in the conclave. Turning 80 in June, he has only narrowly stayed eligible for the position.
Cardinal Sarah is known for being outspoken on his hyper-traditional views, particularly concerning the Church’s relationship with LGBTQ+ Catholics.
He has previously criticised Pope Francis’ blessing of same-sex couples, and has likened Western acceptance of homosexuality to Nazism.
He has also spoken out against immigration, citing it as a negative force for both Europe and Africa.
Cardinal Sarah boasts one of the longest careers out of any of the candidates, ordained as a priest in 1969.
A decade later, he was ordained by Pope John Paul II, a deeply loved figure in the Church, as a bishop at the age of 34.
Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, 76
William Hill: 6/1
Ladbrokes: 5/1
Paddypower: 13/2
Cardinal Turkson from Ghana is considered one of Africa’s leading Catholic voices - a continent of increasing relevance to the Church as Catholicism grows across the region.
Also a champion of LGBTQ+ couples, Cardinal Turkson has called for the decriminalisation of gay relationships in his home country and Africa beyond.
Cardinal Turkson has also been praised for his approachable and energetic presence, with fans particularly enjoying his previous stint as a guitarist in a funk band.
However, Cardinal Turkson has also been accused of islamophobia and scaremongering.
In 2012 the Cardinal was criticised for speaking publicly about the spread of Islam throughout Europe, in a way that was perceived as negative. He apologised for causing offense after the incident.
If elected, Cardinal Turkson would be the first African pope in 1,500 years.
Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72
William Hill: 10/1
Ladbrokes: 10/1
Paddypower: 10/1
Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo isn’t a public favourite to take over as Pope - but similar to Cardinal Sarah, he is favoured by the conservative corners of the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Erdo also enjoys a unique diplomatic positioning within the Church, which has him well-placed as a compromise candidate.
Having grown up in a Catholic family under communist rule, Cardinal Erdo has strong relations with the Orthodox churches that are now popular in formerly Soviet areas.
Formerly the Archbishop of Budapest, Cardinal Erdo has also led the European Bishops’ Conference twice.
Known for his alliance with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Cardinal Erdo is known for his conservative views on family life.
During the 2015 Syrian refugee crisis, Cardinal Erdo also commented that Europe should not accept refugees, saying it was tantamount to human trafficking.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69
William Hill: 6/1
Ladbrokes: 7/1
Paddypower: 9/2
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi from Bologna is seen as another continuity candidate from Pope Francis.
Known for progressive politics, Cardinal Zuppi started out in charities which focused on community work with the poor and impoverished in Rome.
He is also known for his diplomatic work in the Mozambique civil war, as well as trying to mediate in conflicts between Guatemala and Burundi.
Cardinal Zuppi has also authored a 2018 book, imploring the Church to improve its relationship with LGBTQ+ Catholics.
Cardinal Zuppi was also chosen by Pope Francis to be an envoy during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
During the invasion, the Cardinal travelled to Kyiv and Moscow to try and negotiate the release of 19,000 Ukrainian children who has been taken to Russia.
However, many consider Cardinal Zuppi’s closeness to Francis to be a detractor from his chances of success.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60
William Hill: 8/1
Ladbrokes: 8/1
Paddypower: 5/1
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa is a native Milanese Italian, but currently lives in and serves as the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem.
The Cardinal, a relatively young candidate, has been thrust onto the world stage in the wake of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Speaking fluent Italian, English, Hebrew and some Arabic, Cardinal Pizzaballa is seen as an impressive diplomatic force within the Church.
While Cardinal Pizzaballa has long been concerned with improving Jewish-Catholic relations, he has also been outspoken against the Israeli government.
Outside of geopolitics, Cardinal Pizzaballa has moderate but progressive politics. He has spoken of the need for more women in leadership positions, and has been publicly supportive of migration.
However, his relatively young age and inexperience compared to the other candidates puts him at a disadvantage - as does his close proximity to Pope Francis.