Pope Francis is nearing his retirement. There are also rumors about his health issues. A new Pope will soon be appointed, considering the ongoing situation. Those who like to place bets, should begin wagering.
There’s no limit on placing bets these days. You can wager on anything and everything. Those who keep up with the news and follow pop culture find betting on things profitable and exciting. You will be surprised to know that people even bet on the Vatican and who will become the next Pope these days.
For years, Pope’s election odds have been available on the internet. The eighty-five-year-old Pope had no intentions to retire last year, and he clarified all the rumors in June previous year. But the Pope could not fulfill his duties when he visited Canada recently due to his old age and mobility issues.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) December 31, 2022
The Pope is not in good health, and the time is here to start looking for the next Pope. To date, 266 Popes have served as the head of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis is the first non-European to hold this position after Gregory III in 731. The Pope next in line will surely be a part of history as the trend of Italians becoming Pope is now changing. Pope John Paul changed this trend when he became Pope after 400 years.
Here’s a list of all the candidates who could next take up the position of Pope and become the 267th Pope.
Mark Ouellet +250
Mark Ouellet is the current favorite and most likely to replace Pope Francis. He could be the first Canadian Pope and make history. Pope Benedict appointed the 78-year-old as the Congregation of Bishops’ Head in 2010 at the Vatican. He was also one of the candidates for Pope in the 2005 and 2013 elections. Mark Ouellet was also the Primate of Canada and the Archbishop of Quebec previously.
However, Ouellet is in the list of Canadian priests that are currently being invested for sexual assault. This might make is less likely for Ouellet to take Pope’s position. The Vatican cannot elect someone undergoing investigation as their Pope.
Luis Antonio Tagle +400
Cardinal Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines is among the favorites to be elected as the next Pope. The 65-year-old would be the first Asian to become a Pope. He is super popular among the public. Luis Antonio is far from all controversy and also in the good books of the Vatican.
Luis Antonio is currently the leader of the Propaganda Fide, which takes charge of Catholic missions worldwide. Pope Francis also appointed Tagle as the Pro-Prefect of the Section of Congregation of the Evangelization of People. Luis Antonio was also the Archbishop of Manila for almost a decade, from 2011-2019.
Peter Turkson +600
Peter Turkson almost became Pope after Pope Benedict, but Pope Francis took over. Many believe that Turkson could make history by becoming the first black Pope.
Turkson is from Ghana and Pope Francis appointed him as the head of the new Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in 2016. After initiating an internal investigation, Turkson resigned from that department in June 2021.
Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga +800
Maradiaga is almost 80 years old, and his age could be the only factor stopping him from becoming the next Pope. Other than that, Maradiaga has a great chance of taking the position of as the next Pope.
Maradiaga headed the International Caritas, which is a powerful worldwide aid organization. He has over 40 years of experience as a bishop. However, in 2010, there were allegations of financial management on Maradiaga.
Nonetheless, Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI trust Maradiaga. In 2013, they appointed him to the new Advisory Board of Cardinals.
