Jake is a Football and Entertainment betting expert, with a Man City season ticket and a deep knowledge of reality TV betting angles
- 1/3 odds now given of a new Pope coming in during 2025
- Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said the Pope could retire from role
- Luis Antonio Tagle moved into evens favourite for the role earlier this month
1/3 odds now given of a new Pope coming in during 2025
Betting markets continue to be offered on the Next Pope with question marks continuing to surround Pope Francis' reign with his current health battles continuing this week.
All signs this week have pointed to Pope Francis getting better after his recent illness with the Vatican's Press Office reporting on Wednesday morning that he had a "restful night" on Tuesday.
The Holy Father has been in hospital since February 14 after he was taken in due to a bout of bronchitis and his condition has since gotten worse in recent weeks.
Now though it looks like he is getting better but it may well be that he decides to step down from the role of Pope and focus on his health instead.
Betting sites now suggest a 75% chance that there will be a new Pope elected in 2025 with retirement potentially on the cards for Francis.
| Will a new Pope be elected in 2025? | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 1/3 | 75.0% |
| No | 2/1 | 33.3% |
What the expert says...
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said the Pope could retire from role
With the Pope spending nearly a month in hospital now, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi is one of many figures that have spoken about what will be next for the Holy Father with retirement potentially on the cards.
When asked if Pope Francis could retire, Cardinal Ravasi told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, "If he should have some serious difficulties carrying out his service, he will make his choice."
In the Pope's 2024 memoir, “Life: My Story Through History,” Francis praised Pope Benedict's courage in resigning from the role as Pope and said it opened up the doors for others to do so as well in the future.
Francis also said though that "I believe that the pope’s ministry is ad vitam (for life). I see no reason why it shouldn’t be so," which could hint that he will stay in the role until he dies.
Next Pope Betting Odds
Luis Antonio Tagle moved into evens favourite for the role earlier this month
Betting odds continue to be offered on who will be the Next Pope with Luis Antonio Tagle moving into the evens favourite at the start of March.
The latest market gives an implied probability of 50% that it'll be Tagle who is the next Pope with Pietro Parolin following behind him in the odds.
| 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% |
