In Italy, wagering on papal conclaves – the assembly of cardinals in the Vatican that will soon choose the next pope – is strictly forbidden. 

Yet, that hasn't prevented the nation from fixating on who will take over after the deceased Pope Francis. The Italians possess a term for a cardinal who has a strong chance of being chosen as pope, papabile. 

Thus the appeal of “FantaPappa,” a fantasy platform that encourages players to utilize their keen judgment to create a successful team of cardinals. 

Wagering on the Cardinals 

FantaPappa differs from standard daily fantasy sports platforms as it is not a gambling game – it focuses on enjoyment and boasting (bragging rights). The platform boasts over 60,000 users in Italy. 

Participants need to select 11 cardinals they think possess a good chance of being elected Supreme Pontiff, the head of the Catholic Church. From these, they should select a “captain” and a “goalkeeper” whom they believe are the most and least likely, respectively, to secure the open papacy. 

Participants can also select whether the new Pontiff will be progressive or conservative, the election day (the conclave starts on Wednesday), and the number of attempts required for the cardinals to choose the next Bishop of Rome. 

As anyone familiar with the film “Conclave” realizes, the papal election can be a charged event, frequently brimming with captivating intrigue and enigma. 

Papal Decree 

In nations where wagering on the apostolic heir to Saint Peter seems perfectly acceptable, like pagan Britain, betting firms note a fair amount of interest, even though it remains a specialized market. 

Lee Phelps, a representative for William Hill, one of the largest bookmakers in the UK, informed NBC News that his company has accepted thousands of wagers since April 21 and anticipates a spike in betting when the conclave begins. 

Sam Eaton, UK head for betting aggregator Oddschecker, mentioned that the papal election market was surpassing the Europa League soccer event – even though the Europa League is Europe’s secondary club-level competition, the less favored sibling of the immensely popular Champions League. 

Popular Choices 

Currently, the most favored candidate, based on bookmakers, is Italian Pietro Parolin, with odds of 5/2. The 70-year-old local favorite adheres to traditional views on topics like same-sex marriage and euthanasia, but has previously suggested there may be some flexibility regarding clerical celibacy. 

The second favorite, at 3/1, is Luis “Chito” Antonio Tagle, a moderate from the Philippines fond of dancing and karaoke. The 67-year-old, who is still youthful, would become the first Asian pope in contemporary history, if chosen. 

Although he recently stated that he would “like to be pope” and shared an AI-created image of himself as the Pontiff on his Truth Social platform, US President Donald Trump is not a candidate.