Italians use Fantapapa game to predict the next pope

The online game, inspired by fantasy football leagues, has attracted more than 60,000 players making picks on who might become the next pope.

Fantasy football is a game where participants create virtual teams composed of real-life football players and earn points based on their players’ actual performance.

As cardinals prepare to gather on May 7 to choose a successor following Pope Francis’s death on April 21, even betting companies are getting involved, offering odds on the papabili. This is an Italian term used to refer to potential candidates or “likely” choices for the papacy, or the next pope.

Wondering what the game is and how it works? Here’s everything you need to know:

Fantapapa is an online game similar to fantasy football that allows participants to engage with the upcoming papal conclave playfully and competitively.

It combines two Italian words:

“Fanta”: short for “fantasy,” commonly used in Italy in the context of fantasy sports (such as “Fantacalcio,” which is the Italian version of Fantasy football).
“Papa”: this translates to “pope” in Italian.

Players create a squad of 11 potential papal candidates, selecting those they believe are most likely to become the next pope. Points are earned in various ways during the lead-up to the election.

For instance, players gain extra points if one of their picks is prominently mentioned in Italian news reports or makes headlines internationally. Points also increase if one of your chosen candidates is elected, with additional bonuses for correctly predicting details such as the name the new pontiff will take.

The free-to-play, ad-free game went live shortly after Pope Francis’s death. As the papal conclave approaches, players eagerly anticipate the outcome of their predictions for the next leader of the Catholic Church.

How was Fantapapa made and what can you win?

Pietro Pace, an AI architect at Microsoft, and Mauro Vanetti, a video game developer, created Fantapapa. The pair decided to develop the game shortly after Pope Francis was hospitalised in February. They built the platform, which has since gained significant traction.

Mr Pace explained that while the game offers no material prizes, the real reward is “eternal glory”. In the spirit of friendly competition, players can enjoy the thrill of making their predictions and following the papal election outcome.

However, the primary aim is entertainment and engagement with the historic event.

Are you allowed to bet on the next pope in Italy?

While no specific laws in Italy prohibit betting on the papal conclave, it is generally discouraged.

Nicola Tani, head of the Italian specialist media outlet Agipronews, told the Independent: “In Italy, there is no law expressly prohibiting betting on the election of the pope.

“However, the Customs Agency, which authorises the subject of bets in advance, has informally asked gaming licensees to avoid offering odds on the election of the pope, as is the case for Italian political elections.”

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