Who'll be the new Pope? ask bookies

The Times of India: "An Italian and a Nigerian cardinal are tied as Irish bookmakers' favourites to succeed Pope John Paul II.

The early favourites are Dionigi Tettamanzi of Italy and Francis Arinze of Nigeria, both listed at 11-4. Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras is third at 9-2, while Joseph Ratzinger of Germany and Claudio Hummes of Brazil follow at 7-1.

There have been three popes from Africa and several saints, including St Augustine, whose work The City of God has made him a central figure of Christianity and western philosophy. St Augustine was born in Tagaste (Algeria) and educated in Carthage, but is usually depicted as European. The three African popes were Pope Victor (189-199 AD) Pope Militiades (311 -314 AD) and Pope Gelasius (492-496), all now revered as saints. "