Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 in the early hours of Monday, April 21, in the Vatican, causing great commotion in the Catholic world and generating speculation about his succession. Some foreign sportbooks were already speculating about his succession, which generated interest and curiosity among bettors.
The news of Pope Francis’ death was received with sadness and respect by millions around the world. From now on, cardinals from various parts of the planet, including Brazil, will gather for the Conclave, which will define the new leader of the Catholic Church.
It is worth noting that the Conclave takes place between 15 and 20 days after the death or resignation of the Pope, and begins with a mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. The vote takes place in the Sistine Chapel.
What happened?
Pope Francis died in the early hours of Monday, April 21, at his official residence in the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican. He had been hospitalized for about 40 days after suffering from double pneumonia. The previous Saturday, April 19, Pope Francis had made a public appearance in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
Bets for the new Pope
Sportsbook BetUS is offering odds on a variety of scenarios, including who could become the next pope and what name he would adopt. Bets include:
- Luis Antonio Tagle: EV (wins the same amount bet)
- Pietro Parolin: + US$ 125
- Mark Ouellet: + US$ 500
- Fridolin Ambongo Besungu: + US$ 400
- Francis Arinze: + US$ 800
- Peter Turkson: + US$ 400
Cryptocurrency betting site Polymarket has also opened markets on Pope Francis’s future replacement, with options such as “Who will be the next pope?”. Names considered include:
- Pietro Parolin
- Luis Antonio Tagle
- Péter Erdõ
- Peter Turkson
- Matteo Zuppi
- Raymond Burke
The election of the new leader of the Catholic Church
The conclave will decide who will elect a new pope, a ritual that occurs whenever a pope dies or resigns. Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the death of Pope Francis with “deep sorrow” in a video posted on the Vatican’s social media channels.
Therefore, sportbooks continue to speculate on the succession of Pope Francis, offering different scenarios and odds. The world will know the new Pope in the coming weeks.