Odilo Scherer Odds Shorten to Become Next Pope

Brazil Cardinal Odilo Scherer was now among the front runners to be named next Pope with odds of 4/1.  Angelo Scola or Italy remained the favorite at 5/2 at PaddyPower.com. 

Peter Turkson of Ghana still had relatively short odds at 6/1. 

Scherer had not been among the frontrunners until just days ago. 

Erick Reguly of the Globe and Mail offered up this rationale for why Scherer might be the perfect candidate:

He is not European: In the 2013 edition of the conclave, holding a non-European passport seems an asset. Handing the big job to a cardinal in a region where the church is strong, or at least not dying, as it is in Europe and much of North America, would be recognition that the Vatican’s 60 European cardinals can’t and shouldn’t run the show forever. Brazil also happens to be the country with the greatest number of Catholics.

Cardinals from across the globe were convening in Vatican City to elect the new Pope. 

The entire Church, united with us in prayer, asks for the grace of the Holy Spirit at this moment so that we elect a worthy shepherd for the entire flock of Christ," a cardinal said in Latin as the procession began.

A smoke signal will appear to announce that a new Pope has been chosen. 

- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com