# Gamblers bet next Pope will be Old, European **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 14, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gamblers-bet-next-pope-will-be-old-european/299307 "2005-04-14T16:44:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gamblers-bet-next-pope-will-be-old-european/299307/1 "2005-04-14T16:44:48Z")
[http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=574&e=2&u=/nm/20050414/wl\_nm/pope\_betting\_dc](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=574&e=2&u=/nm/20050414/wl_nm/pope_betting_dc) In otrher breaking news, astronomers say that the sun will seem to rise in the East tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![ur8it](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecd19e/32.png) [@ur8it](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ur8it)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gamblers-bet-next-pope-will-be-old-european/299307/2 "2005-04-14T17:10:11Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=574&e=2&u=/nm/20050414/wl\_nm/pope\_betting\_dc](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=574&e=2&u=/nm/20050414/wl_nm/pope_betting_dc) QUOTE] He’ll be Italiano. ---
**Author:** ![finn007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/90db22/32.png) [@finn007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/finn007)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gamblers-bet-next-pope-will-be-old-european/299307/3 "2005-04-14T18:00:38Z")
Well looks like a European,conservative,but many a surprise has come from the VATICAN JOHN 23RD…AND JOHN PAUL 11…THEY WERE BOTH DARK HORSES Think OUR PADDY POWER hasn’ a clue…it will most certainly not be AMERICAN…but that could be politically interesting.because of the scandals in the USA and BOSTON in particular and the falling away of the people and young clergy in the church…so having an AMERICAN…but, hold it, an AMERICAN very unsound in to-days world I personally will stick my neck out and say AN AFRICIAN…_.our IRISH guy is only there to make up the numbers…_ . ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gamblers-bet-next-pope-will-be-old-european/299307/4 "2005-04-14T18:11:22Z")
I’m going to take a wild, crazy, completely out-there guess and venture that the next Pope will be Catholic. …What? Don’t give me those looks, it could happen! (Who wants to bet with me that it’ll be E.T.?) ---
**Author:** ![meek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@meek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meek)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gamblers-bet-next-pope-will-be-old-european/299307/5 "2005-04-14T20:44:10Z")
They’re at the post… and they’re off. Breaking from the gate strong is **Tettamanzi** and \*\*Arinze \*\* followed by **Martini** and **Hummes** moving to the front of the pack. The field gathers behind and heads into the first turn. The youngster **Maradiaga** fades wide and drops three lengths back. **Lustiger** and **Ratzinger** side by side along the rail fifth as they hit the 1/2 mile post in a blistering pace. **Ossa** looking tired now bringing up the rear. Heading into the clubhouse turn it’s **Lustiger** and **Ratzinger** looking strong and making a move. Jostling now as they thunder into the straightaway. AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME. It’s **Lustiger** and **Ratzinger** moving up on the outside. \*\*Arinze \*\* is hugging the rail but can’t hold on. **Tettamanzi** is blocked in behind. It’s **Ratzinger** and **Lustiger** neck and neck forging in front! **Ratzinger!** - **Lustiger!** AT THE WIRE! Photo finish. Hold all tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Lips\_Obsession](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbce88/32.png) [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gamblers-bet-next-pope-will-be-old-european/299307/6 "2005-04-15T14:07:16Z")
I suspect they’ll select someone who is more elderly as they’ll want a pope who has a short reign this time since JPII had such a long term.