Quote:Pope Francis is the favourite to win this year's Nobel Peace Prize, according to bookmakers. The Argentinian Pope is now the 5-2 front-runner for the award, which will be announced by the Nobel Institute in Oslo on Friday, according to bookmaker's William Hill. Paddy Power also has him as a strong contender.
Since being elected in March last year after the resignation of Benedict XVI, the Jesuit pontiff has repeatedly called for peace in conflict zones such as Ukraine, Syria and Iraq.
He urged reconciliation in the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians when he visited the Holy Land this summer, and stopped to pray at the foot of the concrete barrier that separates Jerusalem from Bethlehem.
In July, during an address to the faithful in St Peter's Square, he deviated from his prepared speech to call for peace in conflict zones around the world, from the Middle East and Ukraine to northern Nigeria and the Central African Republic.
[...] If chosen, he would be the first Pope ever to receive a Nobel Peace Prize.
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