Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle: Asia’s bet to become the next pope is leaving it all up to God


Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is known as the “Asian Francis” for what many see as the affable charm of the everyman. - AP

SINGAPORE: If bookmakers and crypto investors are right on the money, Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle may soon become the next head of the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church.

He is an odds-on favourite to succeed Pope Francis and become the first Asian pontiff in modern times. British bookmaker William Hill has his odds at 3/1, just behind Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who has a 9/4 odds. The website Oddscheker has the two cardinals tied.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
Philippines , Pope , Tagle

Next In Aseanplus News

Indonesia searching for missing surveillance plane with 11 onboard
Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Saturday (Jan 17, 2026)
Chinese solar firms eye price hikes amid silver surge, scrapping of tax rebate
Singapore police tell music fans to stay vigilant against e-commerce scams involving K-pop merchandise
Thailand halts multiple major construction projects after fatal accidents
Viettel begins construction of Vietnam's first chip plant, trial run targeted by end 2027
Philippines bans Grok website, eyes X talks as backlash grows
Aaron-Wooi Yik bow out of Indian Open in semis
Indonesia Air transport aircraft en route to Makassar lost contact; search now underway
Going after the cheaters: Cambodia arrests 75 online scam suspects in latest raids

Others Also Read