As crowds gather in Rome to say farewell to Pope Francis II, the Catholic Church begins a period called sede vacante - vacant seat. Cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the Conclave process, where they will vote on who will be the next Pope amongst themselves.
Over 80% of the current members of the College of Cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis himself, so this will be their first experience of a Conclave. For the first time in history, fewer than half of those voting will be European.
Francis ensured that when appointing his Cardinals, he chose a mix of traditionalists, as well as progressive members of the church, like himself. This means that trying to call who the next Bishop of Rome will be is a very difficult undertaking.
Next Pope Odds 2025
Below you can find odds on the next head of the Catholic Church. All prices were correct at the time of writing.
| 💻 Operator | 🗳️ Nominee | 📊 Odds | 👉 Back Selection |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Pietro Parolin | 2/1 | Place Bet |
 | Luis Antonio Tagle | 3/1 | Place Bet |
| | Peter Turkson | 6/1 | Place Bet |
| | Pierbattista Pizzaballa | 9/1 | Place Bet |
Assessing Odds for the Next Pope
Below, we have taken a closer look at the main candidates to succeed Pope Francis II.
Pietro Parolin - 2/1
Pietro Parolin was appointed to the role of Secretary of State in the Vatican by Pope Francis, and he is seen to be the frontrunner for the Papacy.
The Italian also led the Roman Curia, which is the central administration of the church. Having effectively taken the role of deputy, many see Parolin as the natural successor.
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
| Min. Deposit | £5 |
|---|---|
| Max. Amount | £30 |
| Turnover | No wagering |
| Expiration | 30 days |
Luis Antonio Tagle - 3/1
If the Cardinals vote for Tagle, we would see the first asian Pope in the history of the Catholic Church. He has been dubbed 'The Asian Francis' thanks to his moderate views, as well as his dedication to social issues such as migration.
He was considered a favourite in the 2013 conclave, however, he lost out to Francis, who took the papacy.
Bet £10 Get £60 in Free Bets
| Min. Deposit | £10 |
|---|---|
| Max. Amount | £60 |
| Turnover | No wagering* |
| Expiration | 30 days |
| Bonus Code | T60 |
Peter Turkson - 6/1
If chosen by his peers, Cardinal Turkson would become the first African pope in 1500 years. Even though he has stated that he doesn't want the job in the past, this may be one of the characteristics that appeals to the voting Cardinals.
He was the first Ghanaian to be made a Cardinal in 2003 by Pope John Paul II. He tends to lean to the more conservative side of the doctrine, however, he has opposed the criminalisation of gay relationships in African countries.
Bet £10 Get £60 in Free Bets
| Min. Deposit | £10 |
|---|---|
| Max. Amount | £60 |
| Turnover | No wagering* |
| Expiration | 30 days |
| Bonus Code | T60 |
Pierbattista Pizzaballa - 9/1
Born in Italy, Pizzaballa moved to Jerusalem a month after his ordination. He was made the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and later Cardinal by Pope Francis.
He has a deep understanding of the ongoing war in the Middle East, however, his age (60) may mean that his colleagues look for more experience both in life and leadership.
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
| Min. Deposit | £5 |
|---|---|
| Max. Amount | £30 |
| Turnover | No wagering |
| Expiration | 30 days |
More Tips and Insights
Next Pope 2025 FAQs
What is the Conclave?
How will we know when the new Pope is chosen?
Callum is an accredited political journalist, but he turns his hand to sports whenever he can. His first gig was as part of the media team at FC United of Manchester, and since then he has gone on to cover Elections, start a political blog, as well as founding a popular UK politics podcast.