Pope Francis could become the first pope in history to win the Nobel Peace Prize, according to the bookmakers.
Francis is now the 9-4 frontrunner for the prize, which will be announced by the Nobel Institute in Oslo on Friday, according to Paddy Power.
The 77-year-old was nominated by the Argentinian Government, with sponsor Oscar Martinez saying that the Pope had been “decisive in maintaining international peace through his clear position regarding the conflict in Syria".
Since his election last year Francis has repeatedly urged warring parties in Ukraine, Syria and Iraq to find peaceful solutions. In September 2013 as Britain and the US debated carrying out airstrikes in Syria – which they voted against – he called people of all faiths around the world to hold prayer vigils for peace.
He held a historic prayer meeting with the Israeli and Palestinian presidents in the Vatican and stopped to pray at the foot of the barrier that separates Jerusalem from Bethlehem when he visited the Holy Land this May.
Last month Francis said that all wars were "folly" "motivated by greed, intolerance and lust for power".
He has already won a number of awards including Time magazine 2013 “Person of the Year”.
But critics say he is just 18 months into the job and his gestures have yet to yield results.
Other contenders among the record field of 278 nominees include Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot by the Taliban while campaigning for education rights for girls, and Edward Snowden, who leaked information from the US National Security Agency. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, is also among the contenders.
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