Next Pope Odds and Prediction
- The next pope odds can be found at online betting sites, such as Bovada.
- Mark Ouellet and Luis Antonio Tagle are seen as two of the top contenders, among others.
- Sean Patrick O’Malley (+1800) and Matteo Zuppi (+4000) make for appealing longshot bets.
You can bet on the next pope odds at online gambling sites. It’s a rather unique betting market to say the least, and the betting value is impossible to ignore.
In the following post, I will be breaking down the odds for the next pope, as well as offering my betting predictions.
Latest Betting Odds for the Next Pope
Above are the betting odds for the next pope courtesy of Bovada.
As you can see, Luis Antonio Tagle and Marc Ouellet are the most favored options. That implies that they are most likely to be the next pope.
Will that be the case? Time will tell. The pope is typically held until death, but Pope Francis could resign early due to health reasons, as did Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Francis has already taken concrete steps, establishing that Libero Milone, the Vatican auditor, will continue to carry out his duties.
It’s unclear when we will even get to the transition period, but Pope Francis has several health issues and the fact that they are planning for the sede vacante is noteworthy.
Keep in mind that these are only the top 12 potential replacements. You can find the full list of the next pope betting odds at Bovada.
Feel free to check out this Bovada review for more information, or head directly to their site to place your bets now!
Top Candidates to Replace Pope Francis
Now that you know where to find the next pope odds, let’s look at the top candidates.
It’s hard to pinpoint why certain candidates are priced over others, but maybe the oddsmakers know something we don’t.
There are two potential replacements that are favored more than the others. They are Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines and Marc Ouellet from Canada.
Let’s learn a little bit more about them to see why they could be the next pope.
Luis Antonio Tagle (+600)
Luis Antonio Tagle has many titles and positions, mainly the Pro-Prefect for the Section of First Evangelization of Dicastery for Evangelization.
He prefers to be called by his nickname, “Chito.” It’s unlikely his official pope name would be Pope Chito, but you never know.
Tagle is 66 years old and currently resides in Rome, Italy. The Cardinal-Bishop was the Outstanding Manilan in 2013 and received the Fides Award (2015) and Rotary Peace Award (2018).
Other achievements he’s been recognized for include Ford Family Notre Dame Award for Human Development and Solidarity and Father Hecker Award for Excellence in Evangelization in 2017 and 2020, respectively.
Tagle has more of a progressive approach, speaking out against the Catholic Church’s criticisms of the LGBTQ community and divorced/remarried Catholics.
The church is not known for being very progressive, which could make Tagle a risky bet. They could be looking for someone who is more traditional in their teachings.
Marc Ouellet (+600)
The other top contender in the next pope odds is Marc Ouellet.
Ouellet was seen as a candidate for the position in 2005 and 2013. As you can probably guess, Ouellet is on the older side of things, as he turns 79 this year.
Pope Francis is currently 86 years old, so Ouellet doesn’t seem like a solid long-term replacement.
He was born in Quebec, Canada, and was the Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Bishops and President Emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Ouellet accepted his resignation in January of 2023.
In 2022, he was accused of committing sexual assault. He did not face criminal charges and ended up suing for defamation.
Longshot Bets to Be the Next Pope
It’s anyone’s guess as to why Tagle and Ouellet are the two betting favorites in the odds of the next pope. There’s a chance that they will be named the next pope, but I won’t be betting on either of them.
Tagle would make sense if the Catholic Church was looking to be more progressive, but I don’t see that happening. Marc Ouellet’s age and recent alleged sexual assault make him an extremely risky option as well.
With these two things in mind, it makes more sense to target a longshot. Not only do you get a better payout if you win, but the top two candidates seem like risky bets anyways.
Here are two sleeper picks to consider to be the next pope.
Sean Patrick O’Malley (+1800)
It’s worth mentioning that the “who will be the next pope” odds are different across betting sites. That means you can get a better price for a certain candidate somewhere else.
For example, you can get a better price for Sean Patrick O’Malley (+1800) just by visiting BetOnline.
Although he’s the same age as Marc Ouellet, O’Malley looks like a stronger bet to become the next pope. It’s also important to know that age isn’t the end all, be all. What does help, however, is not being accused of sexual assault.
Today we ordain five new priests. We pray that God blesses these five newly ordained priests with good health, wisdom and joy in their heart in their service to Christ, the Church and the people of God. @bostoncatholic pic.twitter.com/T44CnFAAXl
— Cardinal Seán (@CardinalSean) May 20, 2023
O’Malley was made a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in March of 2006. He’s the Archbishop of Boston, after taking over for the disgraced Bernard Law.
Law covered up the serial rape of children, whereas O’Malley helped start the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
He has conservative views as well, which seemingly gives him a higher chance of being elected. If you think O’Malley makes for an appealing longshot bet, I recommend heading to BetOnline.
This in-depth BetOnline review will tell you everything you need to know about their site.
Matteo Zuppi (+4000)
O’Malley is a solid longshot, but if you’re looking for someone a little more profitable, I have just the thing.
Matteo Zuppi has a great price of +4000, in addition to a solid chance of being elected. He’s a bit younger than the others at 67 years old, but that could be seen as a good thing.
The Italian has plenty of experience, being the Archbishop of Bologna and president of the Episcopal Conference of Italy. He was also the Auxiliary Bishop of Rome, in addition to other positions.
Zuppi was created a Cardinal by Pope Francis. His connection to the current pope could give him a leg up on the competition.
So, why is he seen as such a longshot?
I would say that his progressive ideals are the main contributor. That said, Zuppi seems to fit in well with the conservatives. His ability to see things from both sides could help, even though the church leans to the right.
The next pope odds are better for Zuppi at Bovada, but you can visit BetUS to compare the prices for another longshot candidates.
Tips for Betting on the Next Pope
I highly doubt you’ve bet on the new pope odds before. It’s a rare event already, and it’s unlikely you knew that the next pope name odds even existed prior to reading this post.
So, you would probably benefit from a few pointers before placing your wagers.
Here are three things to keep in mind before making your next pope prediction:
- Lean to the Right
- Avoid Controversy
- Shop Around for the Best Odds
As you might know, the Catholic Church is very conservative. There are a few candidates who are slightly progressive, which could make them risky bets.
It’s unclear what the College of Cardinals is looking for exactly, but it’s likely someone who clearly leans to the right.
To avoid criticism, I also expect the church to elect someone without any controversy. It wouldn’t be a good look if they ushered in a new pope who had some alarming accusations against them in years past.
Marc Ouellet may not have been charged, but a sexual assault accusation does not help his chances in the slightest. The Church could face backlash if they choose him to be the next pope, even if he didn’t do it.
You can also get a better price for one candidate simply by comparing their odds on different betting sites. Bovada, BetUS, and BetOnline are three great spots to find the betting odds of the next pope.
As I mentioned earlier, you can get a better price for Sean Patrick O’Malley on BetOnline than Bovada.
There will also be some cases that offer higher payouts on BetUS than Bovada, so make sure you shop around before finalizing your bets.
Prediction for Who Will Be the Next Pope
We’ve dissected the “who will be the next pope” odds, and now it’s time to make our final decision. You might’ve already placed your bet by now, and good luck if you did.
For those of you still mulling over the decision, I’ll reveal mine and get you on your way.
My next pope prediction will be Matteo Zuppi and you can back him at Bovada if you’d like. Yes, he’s a longshot bet, but the leading candidates aren’t intriguing to me.
This isn’t something you can bet on frequently, so I’m guessing you’d want a payout worth your while. Why not swing for the fences with a long shot with +4000 odds?
There are reasons for the Catholic Church to pass on Luis Antonio Tagle and Marc Ouellet, so I find a longshot bet more appealing. Zuppi has ties with Pope Francis, and his age (67) makes him a good long-term replacement.
The next pope odds can be found at the top entertainment betting sites, so head on over if you’re following my pick!
If religion betting isn’t your thing and want to wager on something a little more nonsensical, you’re in luck! You can bet on plenty of other entertainment markets, which include predictions for Deadpool 3 and more!
Footnotes:
- Latest Pope Francis news is courtesy of the Catholic News Agency.
- Marc Ouellet’s suing over alleged sexual assault is from Reuters.