Pope Francis touches the wall that divides Israel from the West Bank, on his way to celebrate a mass in Manger Square next to the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem May 25, 2014. Pope Francis made a surprise stop at the hulking wall
Pope Francis touches the wall that divides Israel from the West Bank, on his way to celebrate a mass in Manger Square next to the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem May 25, 2014. Pope Francis made a surprise stop at the hulking wall Palestinians see as a symbol of Israeli oppression on Sunday, minutes after begging both sides to end a conflict that he said was no longer acceptable. REUTERS/Mheisen Amareen REUTERS/Mheisen Amareen

If what Pope Francis said of guardian angels are true, then they could perhaps help him win this year's Nobel Peace Prize. Bookmakers have banked on the spiritual pontiff, making him the favourite to win the prestigious title.

Bookmakers William Hill Plc. and Paddy Power Plc. said that the head of the Roman Catholic church is favored to win the peace award with odds of 11-4 and 9-4, respectively. The Peace Research Institute in Oslo (Prio) said Pope Francis has been nominated into the list because "he has brought attention to the fate of the poor and the need for a new approach to development and economic redistribution."

Even Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of Prio, said his favourite is Pope Francis. There are a total of 278 nominees this year, mostly individuals. More than 40 were organisations.

In further describing Pope Francis, Prio said on its Web site that the pontiff, while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2014, called for a "renewed, profound and broadened sense of responsibility on the part of all." They noted the Papal statement figured centrally on the need for a new approach.

"Beyond his notable efforts for the poor, which in Harpviken's opinion would be the main justification for awarding him the 2014 Peace Prize, Pope Francis has also instilled new hope for reform of the Catholic Church. He has himself adopted a more modest appearance than his predecessors, uses social media extensively, and signals accessibility for the common man and woman."

Apart from Pope Francis, also in the list being eyed to win the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize include Congolese gynecologist Denis Mukwege; Edward Snowden, the former American intelligence contractor who revealed secret surveillance programs; and Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager who defied the Taliban, among others.

Also included were U.S. researcher Gene Sharp; United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon; former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Chinese agricultural scientist Yuan Longping.

The $1.24 million award will be announced on Oct 10 in Oslo, Norway. Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel created the peace prize, which gave its first award in 1901.