Church: Stop betting on next pope

MANILA, Philippines - Don’t place bets. Just pray.

Catholic bishops yesterday said gambling has no place in the election of the next supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

There had been reports of online betting sites allowing people to place their bet on who would be the next pope.

“It is better to just pray for all the cardinal-electors, that the best among them might come out to lead the Church according to the direction of the Holy Spirit, toward new evangelization beyond this Year of the Faith,” former Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said.

Marbel, South Cotabato Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez said selecting the replacement for pope emeritus Benedict XVI “is mainly the work of the Holy Spirit.”

“The conclave is a sacred rite. It would be improper to trivialize it by betting,” Gutierrez said.

Batangas Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said they would discourage the public from betting on the next pope.

“Betting is always bad. Praying is the best thing. God has to be in charge,” he said.

Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros said “betting always involves something that you take the risk to wager even if it is not money.”

“The election of the next pope is an act of religion that involves the Holy Spirit. It should therefore not be subjected to human frivolity. We should rather pray and ask that our cardinal-electors be faithful to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,” he said.

Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said it would be better to continue to pray for the success of the conclave that will elect the next pope.