When it comes to predicting the next Pope, British bookmakers are placing their bets on Luis Antonio Tagle, the metropolitan archbishop of Manila and a cardinal ordained by Benedict XVI. He is currently the frontrunner to succeed Jorge Bergoglio as the next pontiff.
Bookmakers Favor Tagle
Just two days before the start of the Conclave, scheduled for 4:30 pm on Wednesday, May 7th, British bookies have put their money on Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle. According to Agipronews, William Hill has him at twice the odds as the next Pope, which is less than half of last week’s odds. Tagle, the smiling cardinal who appeals to the youth, sings and dances, and speaks on national TV in the Philippines, seems to be the favorite.
He surpasses Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, who has also seen a slight decrease in odds (from 3.50 to 3.25) but is now behind his colleague Tagle. The two other Italians who have been considered papal contenders from the start, Matteo Zuppi and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, are at odds of five and six respectively.
Moreover, British analysts are also predicting when the announcement of the new pope will be made. A white smoke is possible as early as May 8th (2.10), with May 9th at 2.75. The election on the first ballot in the afternoon of May 7th is at odds of 9.50, but it is almost certain that the first smoke will be black.
From England: “Parolin’s Agreement with China Weighs Heavily”
Meanwhile, the British “Financial Times” has focused on Parolin. The economic newspaper has analyzed the cardinal’s profile and raised doubts about his chances of being elected. According to the English newspaper, Parolin’s agreement with the Chinese government in 2018 for the appointment of bishops weighs heavily against him. The compromise aimed to reconcile the split between the “official” churches accepted and controlled by Beijing and the underground and clandestine communities loyal to the Vatican. As per the agreement, China has a formal role in selecting bishops. However, for a portion of the ecclesiastical community, this agreement is unacceptable, especially for Chinese Catholics who have faced imprisonments and violence for opposing communist control.
After the recent fake news about Parolin’s alleged illness, which was promptly denied by the Vatican press office, efforts continue to undermine Parolin’s image in the race for the papacy.
Words from Parolin’s Childhood Friend
On Rai Radio 1, an interview with Roberto Apo Ambrosi, a friend of Parolin, was aired: “I call him Don Piero – he said – and I always keep in touch with him. The last time was a couple of days ago. He told me he was feeling a bit uneasy about the possibility of becoming Pope. On the other hand, when we were kids, we joked that he would become the Pope and his brother the President, because they were both already very talented.”
