Favorites emerge in predictions for the next Pope ahead of the Conclave
The process to elect a successor to Pope Francis begins on May 7th, as 134 Cardinals from around the world gather in the Vatican for the secretive and potentially drawn-out conclave.
This significant event, conducted in secret ballots called conclaves, requires a two-thirds majority of the attending cardinal electors for the election of the new Pope and the release of white smoke from the Sistine Chapel.
BoyleSports, Ireland's largest independently owned bookmaker, has opened a book on how soon we will see white smoke. The odds are 11/8 for 5-6 ballots being needed to elect a new Pope.
Among the contenders, Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, known for his humble and reformist outlook, is considered a frontrunner for the papacy, with odds of 7/2. Pietro Parolin, the Italian Cardinal who served as deputy during the reign of Pope Francis as the Vatican's Secretary of State, is the early favourite to be elected as the next Pope, with odds of 11/4 at BoyleSports.
Cardinal Peter Turkson, from Ghana, is a leading candidate to become the first Pope in more than 1,500 years to hail from Africa, with odds of 4/1. Other notable candidates include Matteo Zuppi at 7/1 and Pierrebattista Pizzaballa at 8/1.
Interestingly, more than half of those with a vote in the College of Cardinals will be non-European for the first time in history, sparking speculation that the papacy may go to Asia or Africa.
Dignitaries from around the world attended Pope Francis' funeral in Rome, including US President Donald Trump, British PM Keir Starmer, the Prince of Wales, Irish President Michael D Higgins, and Taoiseach MicheaΜl Martin.
BoyleSports, founded by John Boyle in 1982, has a rich history and currently employs over 2,700 employees across Ireland, the UK, and Gibraltar. The company's Head Office is located on the outskirts of Dundalk in the Republic of Ireland.
The company's extensive online business and retail portfolio make it an international sports betting and gaming company, offering a wide range of betting markets and services.
As the world watches, the conclave will continue its voting process until a candidate receives the required two-thirds majority, hoping to witness the election of the new Pope and the release of the symbolic white smoke from the Sistine Chapel.
