Gamblers Bet on Older Pope Candidates

DUBLIN, Ireland – As reported by Reuters: "Gamblers are betting on two elderly cardinals from France and Germany to be the next pope, according to Irish bookmaker Paddy Power.

"Odds on Germany's Joseph Ratzinger, who prior to Pope John Paul's death was the number four choice, have shortened to 4-1 and France's Jean-Marie Lustiger has come from nowhere to join him at the top of the list.

"'Lustiger was at 20-1 two weeks ago but they've started betting for him in just the last three or four days,' a spokesman at Paddy Power said.

"He said a bet of 1,500 euros ($1,931) on Lustiger at 10-1 was one of the biggest so far. To date, the company has taken 7,000 bets worth a total of 150,000 euros on the next pontiff.

"Lustiger, like Ratzinger a favorite of the late pope and sharing his conservative views, is the Archbishop Emeritus of Paris and the only Jewish born Catholic prelate of modern times.

"A flurry of bets on Thursday helped boost Ratzinger, who turns 78 this week, after Italian media reported he had initial support of 40 to 50 cardinals and a church official told Reuters on Wednesday that support for him looked strong…"