Who Will Be The Next Pope?

We’ve seen 266 Popes to head the Catholic Church, Pope Francis being the lastest. But with

rumors of his health declining, we could see a new pope sooner rather than later. Recently, the

85-year-old wasn’t able to fulfill his duties during a trip to Canada and has been dealing with

mobility issues forcing him to use a wheelchair. While Pope Francis has rejected retirement

rumors, speculation and betting odds are running wild to see who could be named the next

pope.

The Contenders

Mark Ouellet (+500)

Mark Ouellet could make history as the first Canadian Pope. He’s considered as one of the

favorites for the papacy because of his experience and credentials in the Catholic Church. The

79-year-old was appointed by Pope Benedict as head of the Congregation of Bishops at the

Vatican in 2010. Ouellet was also a candidate for the last two Pope elections in 2005 and 2013.

But Ouellet is part of a long list of Canadian priests involved in a sexual assault investigation

and the Vatican can’t elect someone under investigation or accused of a crime

Pietro Parolin (+500)

Pietro Parolin is already the Vatican’s number two, the Secretary of State, making him the

highest-ranking official next to the Pope. He spent almost a decade in the role and also spent

30 years in the diplomatic service of the Holy See. Parolin is Italian and was appointed as

Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2014. He’s also considered to be the Vatican’s de facto deputy

foreign minister which will help his cause of the role.

Luis Antonio Tagle (+600)

Cardinal Luis Tagle has been gaining some ground in the betting odds over the last few months

and could be the favorite in the coming months. Tagle is very popular with the public and well

known for his progressive views especially around LGBTQ laws which appeals to a younger

demographic. While he is popular, Tagle’s age and inexperience in Vatican laws could work

against him. The 66-year-old would become the first Asian Pope if he took over the papacy

from Pope Francis

Betonline Has Europe as Favorite For Where Next Pope Comes From

If you’re not certain on a potential name for the next Pope you can wager on which continent the

successor for Pope Francis will come from. With four of the top six hailing from Europe, it’s no

surprise to see Europe at 5/6 odds that the next Pope will be European.

Europe

-120

North America

+450

Africa

+450

Asia

+450

South America

+650

History of Pope Nationality

217 – Italy

16 – France

6 – Germany

5 – Byzantine Empire

4 – Greece

3 – Africa Proconsularis

3 – Holy Land (Israel)

2- Dalmatia (Croatia)

2- Valencia (Spain)

2 – Portugal

2 – Anatolia (Turkey)

1 – England

1- Netherlands

1- Poland

1- Argentina