Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson, 64, is the 9-4 favorite to become the next pope, according to Irish betting site Paddy Power Plc. Canada's Marc Ouellet, 68, is second favorite at 5-2, followed by Nigeria's Francis Arinze, 80, at 3-1. Pope Benedict will have no role in choosing his successor, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said at a press conference in Rome. The pope will initially retire to his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo before transferring to a convent, Lombardi said.
Left, German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, newly ordained as Pope Benedict XVI, appears at the window of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican after being elected as the 265th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on April 19, 2005.
Rate this Page
Bloomberg moderates all comments. Comments that are abusive or off-topic will not be posted to the site. Excessively long comments may be moderated as well. Bloomberg cannot facilitate requests to remove comments or explain individual moderation decisions.