Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turksan is the front runner to replace Pope Benedict from the the bookmaker’s point of view. If elected, Turkson would lead 1, 2 billion members of the Roman-Catholic church, this would be the first time in a millennium that the Catholic church would be under the headship of a non-European.

Paddy Power offered 11 to 4 odds on Turkson being elected, while Ladbrokes offered odds of 5 to 2. Bets placed earlier in February put Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson, Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze and Canadian Marc Ouellet in a three leg cardinal race to papacy.

A Paddy Power spokesperson said:

Turkson has attracted the highest number of bets, accounting for 15 percent of the market and is shouldering the biggest single bet of 5,000 pounds ($7,600 and over R60 000).

The company further remarked that the papal bet it is set to become the  largest non-sporting market in its history, with takings of 300 000 pounds (R4 million) on pope betting.

The new pope will be elected by 115 cardinals in conclave in March at the Vatican. He will be called to lead a tainted Church, labouring under the weight of numerous scandals from Vatileaks to child abuse allegations in Europe and the United States of America.

Pope Benedict is set to step down from the Church tomorrow, which will mark the first time in six centuries a pope has resigned.

[Source: Independent]