Pope Francis, Malala Yousafzai and Edward Snowden amoung Nobel Peace Prize candidates

OSLO, Norway, Oct. 3 (UPI) —

Pope Francis, Malala Yousafzai and Edward Snowden are just a few of the names in the running to win the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.

Awarded to an individual or group who’s efforts are devoted to global harmony and raising humanity’s overall quality of life, the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner will be announced on October 10.

In addition to Pope Francis, Yousafzai and Snowden, other leading candidates include the International Space Station partnership, Uruguay President Josà © Mujica, a Japanese peace group that opposes militarization in the Asian nation, Chelsea Manning, Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and Congolese gynecologist Denis Mukwege, among others.

Bookmakers William Hill Plc. and Paddy Power Plc. and both favor Pope Francis as the winner, while Nobel Peace Prize analysts Nobeliana veiw Malala and Snowden as the front runners.

"A peace prize to the pope would be award for ‘doing the job he is supposed to do,’" notes Nobeliana.

"Pope Francis should not be rewarded for doing his job. Such a prize would also be a prize for hope and good intentions, precisely why the peace prize to president Obama was strongly criticized."