Wednesday, January 11, 2006

So who'll be the next Pope then?

Please. Listen. I'm not trying to be morbid or pessimistic; I'm not asking for or hoping for a new Pope; I'm quite happy with the one I have now.

You all may remember in April of 2005 the Irish bookmaker firm Paddy Power received miles of free publicity for the Next Pope market. But in fact, the nature of the business is that this market will, frankly, last as long as the Barque of Peter sails the stormy oceans of this world.

So here are their market leaders, and a few other names selected by myself. And I am not making any tips or predictions as to who the next Pope will be. But let's face it: George Pell should be far shorter than 66/1.

Angelo Scola (Venice) 6
Christoph Von Schoenborn (Austria) 7
Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga (Honduras) 7
J M Bergoglio (Argentina) 9
Francis Arinze (Nigeria) 10
Tarcisio Bertone (Italy) 10
Dionigi Tettamanzi (Italy) 10
Claudio Hummes (Brazil) 12
Francisco J E Ossa (Chile) 14
Karl Lehmann (Germany) 16
Camillo Ruini (Rome) 20

Wilfred Napier (South Africa) 20
Cormac Murphy-O'Connor (England) 40
Dario Castrillon Hoyos (Colombia) 50
Keith Patrick O'Brien (Scotland) 50
J-M Lustiger (Paris) 66
George Pell (Sydney) 66
Francis George (Chicago) 80
Bono (Ireland) 1000

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