When he passed the crucial two-thirds threshold, his close friend, the Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes hugged him, kissed him and entreated: "Don't forget the poor!"

BBC: Pope Francis wants 'poor Church for the poor'

Davies says nine more bets have been placed on Father Dougal Maguire -- the dimwitted fictional priest from Irish television sitcom "Father Ted" and a 10, 000-1 underdog -- than for Claudio Hummes, a Brazilian cardinal who also has the added benefit of being a real person.

CNN: Gambling with God: Staking a wager on the next pope