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- Luis Antonio Tagle has now shortened into evens favourite to be the next Pope
- Pope Francis will miss Ash Wednesday celebrations
- We look at the top five contenders for the big role in detail
Luis Antonio Tagle has now shortened into evens favourite to be the next Pope
Betting odds continue to be offered on who will be the next Pope with Luis Antonio Tagle now shortening into evens favourite with betting sites for the role in the past few days with the betting market changing right around.
Tagle was the 9/2 second favourite when the market originally opened last week but has now moved into evens ahead of Pietro Parolin in the odds list with a surge in interest in the Filipino.
Those latest odds now suggest a 50% chance that Tagle steps into the role next and becomes the first modern day Asian Pope, with Gregory III the last Asian Pope back in 741 AD.
Former favourite Pietro Parolin follows behind Tagle in the betting market with his odds at 2/1 to progress from the Vatican’s Secretary of State to the Pope.
| Next Pope After Francis I | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Luis Antonio Tagle | 1/1 | 50.0% |
| Pietro Parolin | 2/1 | 33.3% |
| Fridolin Ambongo Besungu | 5/1 | 16.7% |
| Peter Turkson | 6/1 | 14.3% |
| Wim Eijk | 6/1 | 14.3% |
What the expert says..
Pope Francis will miss Ash Wednesday celebrations
Earlier this week Pope Francis health battle continued with two new "acute breathing crises" on Monday according to the Vatican.
The latest bulletin on Wednesday morning that they released though said that the Pope rested well overnight and had a calmer day.
Despite that though the Pope will not be available for the Ash Wednesday celebrations which marks the start of Lent.
Instead, Italian Cardinal Angelo de Donatis will preside over the celebrations and it's not the first time that Francis has missed it after pulling out of 2022's celebrations with knee pain.
We look at the top five contenders for the big role in detail
The five frontrunners to be the next Pope according to the betting market all have their own individual stories and reasons as to why they should be considered.
Two African candidates sit amongst the top five with Fridolin Ambongo Besungu and Peter Turkson hailing from Congo and Ghana respectively.
Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines, 67): A progressive and compassionate leader often compared to Pope Francis. Advocates for inclusivity, especially for marginalized groups.
Pietro Parolin (Italy, 70): Vatican’s Secretary of State and a skilled diplomat. A moderate choice who represents continuity with Pope Francis' leadership.
Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Congo, 65): A conservative voice from Africa, opposing blessings for same-sex and unmarried couples. Influential in the African Catholic community.
Wim Eijk (Netherlands, 71): A former doctor and staunch conservative critical of some of Pope Francis' policies. Focuses on bioethics and traditional Church values.
Peter Turkson (Ghana, 76): Advocates for social justice and economic equality. Represents the Global South and has extensive Vatican experience.
Further Pope stats
- Total Popes: 266 (including Pope Francis)
- Longest Reign: Pope Pius IX (31 years, 7 months, 23 days; 1846–1878)
- Shortest Reign: Pope Urban VII (13 days; 1590)
- Oldest Pope at Election: Pope Clement X (elected at 79 in 1670)
- Youngest Pope at Election: Pope Benedict IX (believed to be around 20 years old in 1032)
- Oldest Pope at Death: Pope Leo XIII (died at 93 in 1903)
- Youngest Pope at Death: Pope John Paul I (died at 65 in 1978 after only 33 days in office)
