I will probably not bet on who will be the next pope, and I didn't bet this time, either. This form of betting is entertainment, and it can be fun. It is sad when people get carried away and lose too much money.

I was astonished that an American, Cardinal Robert Prevost, became pope. People who bet on a different pope probably thought they were taking a calculated risk. Yet surprises like this happen all the time in life. Not many people can predict the future, but we can expect the unexpected and are likely to lose when betting on it.