Pope Francis a Favorite to Receive Nobel Peace Prize?

Pope Francis is once again a top contender for the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Peace Prize Committee is set to close the nomination window for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize winner on Monday.

Also a front-runner for last year's Nobel Peace Prize, the Pontiff of Rome said that he was not interested in such honors. Last year, among the contenders for the prestigious award, were the women of Paraguay, who fought valiantly during the 19th-century War of the Triple Alliance. Pope Francis cited those who he deemed "more deserving" of the honor.

Pope Francis has been considered to be the "Pope of Surprises," as the Pontiff likes to set his agendas personally. In a report with The Huffington Post, 2016 is looking to be a busy year for Pope Francis, as he is set to canonize Mother Teresa of Calcutta in September of this year. The "Mother of Calcutta" was a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize back in 1979. She remains to be the most prominent Catholics to have received the award. 

Among the nominees include Nadia Murad, a former victim of sexual slavery at the hands of the Islamic State. She is now a champion of women who have been abused by IS militants. The women's rights advocate has been nominated by Audun Lysbakken.

Like Pope John Paul II, Pope Francis remains a favorite among the Nobel Peace Prize contenders. John Paul II was rumored to be nominated because of his opposition towards the 2003 war on Iraq.  

But part of the Pope's global appeal is his tendency to shy away from such awards. The Pontiff has been known to wear old clothes and shoes, and tries to implement his own brand of humility within the Vatican, Time reports. The Argentine Pope refuses to live in the live in the Vatican apostolic palace. 

According to NBC News, the Norwegian members of the Nobel Commitee receive more than 200 nominations, and these are kept in secrecy for 50 years. The report said that Panel members can make their nominations on Feb. 29, which is set to be the first judging.

Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu gave his vote to Pope Francis. Back in 2015, Pope Francis met privately with the recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize and praised them for being "architects of peace." The prize went to Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, who "championed the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia."