Who is going to be the next Pope

[Viviennemary]

The Conclave starts today. I'm quite interested to see who will be the successor to Francis.

Seems Cardinal Parolin is the favourite. He's Italian. I hope its not him. Very conventional knows the ropes. Bit of a boring choice.

Cardinal Tagle from the Philippines. Now that would be a lot more interesting. There is a huge Catholic population there. He's second favourite.

Then Cardinal Turkson from Ghana I think. Now that will be really interesting. I think a good thing.

Then Cardinal Zuppi another Italian. Again boring. We need somebody to make a mark but maybe not too big a one.

Anyone got an opinion on this.

I would be surprised if it wasn’t ’white guy from Italy’.

Going to be an Italian this time, so I think it's effectively out of two, but I guess they have to pretend they are doing something in the Chapel for a few days. Black smoke, black smoke, black smoke, white smoke, thrilling!

Isn't there an Irish-American chap called Kevin Farrell running the show at the moment? A stunt Pope, if you will. Could it be him? I admit Pope Kev doesn't sound quite right.

I think the popes each choose a new name once they are elected.

Surely we want a pope that knows the ropes?

I'd vote for the youngest guy if I had a say. I've no idea what his creditionals are but staying alive seems like it would be a good starting point.

I'm keeping an eye on Cardinal You from South Korea. I don't think it will be anyone non European but you never know.

Kevin Farrell has a nice aura about him but I don't think it will be him.

My money is on one of the Italians but I'll be disappointed if that happens.

My prediction for the Papal name is another John/Paul.

I will be surprised if Parolin doesn’t get it.

I’m more interested in seeing how long it takes them to agree!

I'm perplexed as to why BBC news have half a screen on live streaming of the chimney when they haven't started yet??

Cardinal Tagle gets my vote!

My choice would be Cardinal Robert Sarah.

I admit my ignorance about the candidates but I'm fascinated all the same. Are there any Irish potentials in the mix? I don't believe there has ever been an Irish pope which seems somehow odd to me given their history with Catholicism.

(But hey, I imagine most countries of the world haven't had Popes, so it's of no bearing on anything other than my mindless musings!)

Would love Cardinal Sarah to get it, but he won’t.

No knowledge but having just read Conclave, I'm going to inform myself and join in.

My initial guess is Italian.

Vincent Nicols is Irish.

Tagle gets my vote. Really hope it’s not another old white guy…..

But Pope Pizzaballa has a great ring to it

I think Cardinal Tagle would get my vote in my uneducated opinion. He seems a more modern option.

Ive got £10 on Tagle. I heard him speak years ago and was very impressed with him. I think he’d be ideal.

I'm team tagle here, but I quite like the idea of the pizza ball dude getting it based on his awesome name.

I sadly hope the African likely candidates don't get it because they are all really conservative, and the last thing Catholicism needs is to go backwards again on stuff.

@IlovelowryVincent Nichols is from Crosby, Liverpool!

I very much doubt it will be an Italian. Or even European. Although an African pope is king over due. They are often very conservative and their views on homosexuality etc. would be problematic for a lot of the church.

Ha Ha always thought he was Irish 😂

I've just seen the pizzaballa and chuckled too - glad I'm not alone 😆

It’s never the favourite! The nature of the conclave is that you are likely to get a compromise candidate. I hope it’s someone progressive but have no idea about any of those in the running. Just hope there’s no orange smoke 😉