Following the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome, preparations are quietly underway for the selection of his successor. The Conclave, the centuries-old secretive ceremony in which cardinals vote to elect a new pope, is expected to take place next month.
Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, with over 130 expected to take part in the upcoming election. While technically any baptised Catholic man can be elected, the papacy has traditionally gone to a cardinal.
Current Favourite to Succeed Pope Francis
According to betting firm William Hill, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, is the current frontrunner with odds of 9/4. He is closely followed by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at 3/1. If elected, Tagle would make history as the first Asian pope.
William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps commented:
“There’s already plenty of speculation on who the Vatican will choose as the next pope. Pietro Parolin leads the market, followed by Luis Antonio Tagle. Matteo Zuppi and Peter Turkson are also seen as strong contenders.”
Top Contenders (Odds at Time of Writing)
- Pietro Parolin – 9/4
- Luis Antonio Tagle – 3/1
- Peter Turkson – 6/1
- Matteo Zuppi – 6/1
- Robert Sarah – 8/1
- Pierbattista Pizzaballa – 8/1
- Peter Erdo – 10/1
- Others – 16/1
Role of UK and Irish Cardinals
While the UK and Ireland have a small number of cardinals eligible to vote, none are considered frontrunners. Cardinal Arthur Roche, 75, from West Yorkshire and currently based in Rome, is the most prominent figure from the region. He has worked closely with Pope Francis as a senior adviser.
Other senior British and Irish church leaders, including Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, both 79, have ruled themselves out, citing age and capability. Cardinals Michael Fitzgerald (88) and Sean Brady (85) are above the voting age and will not participate in the Conclave.
Scotland currently has no Catholic cardinals.
