They’re getting a kick out of selecting the next pope.
Italians are flocking to play Fantapapa, an online video game inspired by fantasy soccer, where players create a team of 11 papal frontrunners they think could be the next pontiff.
More than 60,000 users in Italy are participating in the game, where cardinal position matters — the team captain has the greatest chance to be elected pope, and a goalkeeper is least likely.
Once the team is set, players get to predict the new pope’s name and whether he will be more progressive or conservative, what day he’ll be selected, and how many rounds it will cardinals to decide during the conclave, which begins May 7.
Each correct guess earns points — but winners don’t get any prizes.
“It’s just for fun and for eternal glory,” game co-creator, Pietro Pace, told Euronews.
Fantapapa was launched due to the success of Fantacalcio, a fantasy soccer game, and Fantasanremo, a song fantasy game played during Italy’s Sanremo Music Festival.
“We tried to apply the same logic to the conclave in essence,” Pace said.
The papal contender most chosen by Fantapapa enthusiasts is Vatican Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, who is also the favorite amongst those betting on the election.
In the second spot is Archbishop of Bologna Matteo Zuppi, and in third, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines.
Game co-creator Mauro Vanetti said the idea came from the significance of the papal election around the world.
“We know that the religious hierarchies are part of the power in this country and also, let’s say, at an international level, so it is a historic event and it seemed interesting to us to take it from a light-hearted side, but also based on real data,” he told the outlet.
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