The Conclave: Just Wondering

[ChillDoubt]

Do the bookies, here or elsewhere (Italy, obviously) actually take bets on it i.e. number of days/votes before we see the white smoke?

Or is it considered a bit of a faux pas?

[tenrec]

Yes, apparently outside sport it is the most bet on thing.

[DTCwordfan]

Leading candidates (PaddyPower) are:

Archbishop Angelo Scola (Italy) 5/2
Cardinal Odilo Scherer (Brazil) 4/1
Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana) 6/1
Cardinal Marc Ouellet (Canada) 7/1
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone (Italy) 10/1
Cardinal Christoph Schonborn (Austria) 12/1
Cardinal Sean O'Malley (United States) 12/1

Mine's on Canada.

[ChillDoubt]

Is it 20/1 the field then DTC?

[DTCwordfan]

Here's the smoke protocol for the Sistine Chapel:

White smoke = We have a new Pope. Let the kissing of his rear and knuckles begin.

Black smoke = We are still without one. Please stop ringing the doorbell.

Red smoke = One or more Cardinals fell into the chimney. Send for bandages and morphine.

Pink smoke = Surf N' Turf all gone. We told you 118 platters weren't enough!

Purple smoke = We're out of Chianti = break open the Chilean Merlot.

Blue smoke = Ebola spreading out of control. Note to world: Horse meat not so good after all.

Yellow smoke = The Lasagne has been burnt.

Orange smoke = To the Protestants of the world: You got served! Catholics are in the house again!

Green smoke = We, the Opus Dei, have seized control of the Papacy. To start, bring forth to us the pretty girls. Then the not so pretty ones. Then the boys. But only the pretty ones.

[DTCwordfan]

they were quoting on individuals all the way down....

[DTCwordfan]

http://www.paddypower.com/bet/novelty-betting/current-affairs/pope-betting?AFF_ID=17389&;ef_id=USnaLwAAAPDvmz4a:20130312181441:s&gclid=CLWHgJvk97UCFUTItAodkUAAiw&http://www.paddypower.com/bet/novelty-betting/current-affairs/pope-betting?AFF_ID=17389&ef_id=USnaLwAAAPDvmz4a:20130312181441:s

[ChillDoubt]

Thanks DTC.
As the last few have been rank outsiders it could be a pin the tail on the donkey job if one were going to have a cheeky punt.

[tonyav]

I think I'm gonna have a fiver on Father Dougal Maguire of Craggy Island DTC. Looks like a good outside bet to me at 1000 to 1.

[DTCwordfan]

Canada is my punt (intersection of New and Old World and French/English speaking).....

[ChillDoubt]

I hope they go with Pope Gregory for the official name, it always reminds me of Blackadder.