It has been two weeks since Pope Francis’ death, but that has not stopped thousands from placing playful bets on who will take his place. More than 60,000 people are already participating in a fantasy-style game centered on the next pope.
How Fantapapa works
The game is called Fantapapa. It lets players create their own virtual conclave, inspired by Italy’s previous fantasy soccer game, Fantacalcio, and music festival game, Fantasanremo.
According to Euro News, players select 11 cardinals they believe are most likely to receive votes. From there, they pick a captain — the cardinal they think will become the next pope.
On the other side, players also choose a goalkeeper, or the cardinal they believe has the least chance of being elected. The game even allows players to predict what name the next pope will take.
So far, Vatican Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin is the most popular contender among players. Cardinals Matteo Zuppi and Luis Antonio Tagle are close behind.
Betting odds across markets
Beyond Fantapapa, formal betting markets are also tracking the race to become the next pope.
In Ontario, Parolin is still a top favorite with +255 odds, according to Sportsbook Review. He’s, again, followed by Tagle at +325 and Zuppi at +600.
At the other end, Dominique Joseph Mathieu is the long shot, sitting at +20,000.
Parolin also leads betting charts on OLBG, which shows people predicting Leo or Pius will be the next pope’s chosen name, each carrying a win probability of 33.33%.
Additionally, OLBG data indicates many expect the next pope to be selected in over 4.5 rounds.
The real conclave process
While Fantapapa offers no real prizes, and betting is as easy as placing a few online wagers, the actual papal conclave is far more complex.
The highly secretive process begins 15 to 20 days after a pope’s death. Cardinals gather in Vatican City, where they repeatedly cast ballots until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority. If no one is chosen after three days, the group pauses voting for prayer and discussion.
A movie boost
Interest in the process also surged thanks to pop culture. The film “Conclave” gained renewed popularity after Prime Video released it just two days after Pope Francis’ death.
Fantapapa players still have time to see if their picks pay off. Voting to elect the next pope begins May 7.
