Within minutes of Pope Benedict's announcement, speculation was rife about who would replace him.

There are several papal contenders in the wings, but no obvious front-runner - the same situation when Benedict was elected pontiff in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II.

However, cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson has emerged as the early favourite, with Paddy Power offering odds of 9/4, closely followed by Canadian Marc Ouellet at 5/2.

Here, MailOnline looks those in contention, their odds and some of their strongly held beliefs.
Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana

9/4 Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, pictured right, 64

Country: Ghana Cardinal in the Ghanaian Catholic Church

Elevated to cardlinalate by Pope John Paul II

Significant views: Would like to see a black pope. Believes condoms should be used in marriage if one partner is infected with Aids.
Marc Ouellet

5/2 Cardinal Marc Ouellet, 68

Country: Canada

Elevated to the cardinalate by Pope John Paul II

Significant views: Belief that abortion is unjustifiable, even in cases of rape


Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze

7/2 Cardinal Francis Arinze, 80

Country: Nigeria

Elevated to cardlinalate by Pope John Paul II

Significant views: Extreme conservatism on birth control and abortion

Cardinal Angelo Scola

7/1 Cardinal Angelo Scola, 71

Country: Italy

Elevated to become Archbishop of Milan by Benedict XVI

Significant views: Wants to work more closely with Islam and support Christians in the Middle East
Honduran cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga

10/1 Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, 70

Country: Honduras

Elevated to cardinalate by Pope John Paul II

Significant views: A moderate but is anti-abortion and criticised Ricky Martin for using a surrogate mother
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

12/1 Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, 78

Country: Italy

Elevated to cardinalate by Pope John Paul II

Significant views: Blamed homosexual infiltration of the clergy for Catholic child sex scandals

14/1 Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, 70

Country: Italy

Elevated to cardinalate by Pope Benedict XVI

Significant views: Strongly against abortion and expressed anger towards same-sex unions

16/1 Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 77

Country: Argentina

Elevated to cardinalate by John Paul II

Significant views: Against abortion and euthanasia, is against same-sex marriage but calls for respect of gay people. Washed the feet of 12 Aids patients in 2001.

20/1 Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 69

Country: Argentina

Elevated to cardinalate by Benedict XVI

Significant views: Said Christians in Iraq under Saddam Hussein were more free than they are now

25/1 Cardinal Christoph von Schonborn, 68

Country: Austria

Elevated to cardinalate by John Paul II

Significant views: Said use of a condom by an Aids sufferer could be seen as a 'lesser evil'.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2276884/Pope-Benedict-XVI-resigns-First-Pontiff-600-years-stand-longer-strength-carry-on.html#ixzz2Kbr1za8f