The quiet, reserved and proven Vatican diplomat Pietro Parolin is the top favourite to don the Pope’s hat before the Conclave begins deliberations on 7th May.
The Papal race is about to kick off, and while the Italian Parolin is the bookie’s favourite, there are a few close contenders that will make this a tough pick.
After Pope Francis was laid to rest at the end of April, all eyes quickly turned to the 133 Cardinals who will enter the Conclave in two days.
What’s Happening Right Now
Hold your horses! Before we can get to the Conclave, a series of ‘Congregazioni’ are held to discuss what type of Pope the Cardinals should elect. All 252 Cardinals can attend and speak at these.
In 2013, Pope Francis, who was by no means a favourite, became a standout candidate after a speech he gave at one of these congregations. They will continue until the 6th of May.
This election is particularly interesting, as unlike previous Conclaves, none of the front runners are heavily campaigning to become Pope. Which means we may see some surprise runners.
Pope Francis has elected 80% of this current Conclave, and there is a relatively large mix of ideologies and cultural backgrounds. Experts have stated that this will be a hard election to predict.
The Start of the Conclave, 7th May
On the 7th of May, the 133 Cardinals will be locked within the Sistine Chapel and will remain in the Vatican until a 2/3 majority for one candidate is reached. There is no time limit, but the last two lasted just 2 days.
The typical clash of conservatism vs progressive ideals will be very prevalent here, with the favourites being a mix from both sides of the argument. None hold any extreme views, though.
The Congregazioni seem to be looking for someone who will bring more stability and unity to the Papacy. Pope Francis was considered to be very spontaneous, possibly too much at times.
What we do know is that millions will be awaiting that iconic white smoke, and with a good pool of possible candidates, predicting the new Pope might not be the easiest task.
The new Pope odds may be a good indication, and here is what we think of a few of the favourites.
The Cardinal Candidates (Papabile)
Pitro Parolin, 70, Italy: The current favourite is priced at 11/4 with BoyleSports. He was the Pope's right-hand man and will likely continue Pope Francis’ work. He’ll also be presiding over the conclave. So, he’s the star man, as well as the referee.
Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, The Philippines: Considered more progressive, and is believed to be Pope Francis’ preferred candidate. He’s priced at 10/3 with bet365.
Peter Turkson, 76, Ghana: Turkson was the original favourite by bookies in 2013. Turkson is conservative, but relatively progressive politically. He would be the first African Pope in over 1,500 years. He’s now priced at 6/1 with bet365.
Matteo Zuppi, 69, Italy: Progressive, Zuppi was a close associate of Pope Francis, and a political activist, clashing with the right-wing Italian government regularly. He’s priced as high as 7/1 with Ladbrokes, and as low as 9/2 on other online bookies. Could there be value here?