Rachel Evans
Pope Francis has been viewed favourably by a majority of US Catholics, with a 75% rating in 2024, according to a Pew Research Center survey. This is a decrease from his peak rating of 90% in 2015. Pope Francis has been praised for his less formal approach to the papacy, his commitment to environmental issues, and his more accommodative tone on LGBTQ+ topics. However, some Catholics have expressed dissatisfaction with the Pope, particularly those who identify as Republicans or lean towards the Republican Party. Pope Francis has been criticised for his outreach to the LGBTQ+ community and for his reversal of Benedict's relaxation of restrictions on celebrating the old Latin Mass.
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What You'll Learn
Pope Francis's popularity with US Catholics
Pope Francis, who became pope in 2013, has generally been viewed more positively than his immediate predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, but less positively than Benedict's predecessor, Pope John Paul II.
A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 75% of US Catholics view Pope Francis favourably, down 8% since 2021 and 15% below his peak rating of 90% in 2015. The partisan gap in views of Pope Francis is now larger than ever, with 90% of Catholic Democrats holding a positive view of him, compared with 63% of Catholic Republicans.
Pope Francis has been praised for his less formal approach to the papacy. For example, he chose to reside in a guesthouse rather than the papal apartments and has favoured simpler vestments. He has also been praised for his environmentalism, his commitment to social justice, and his emphasis on mission. He has been described as being in close continuity with the Second Vatican Council of Catholic Bishops, which strove to address new questions that challenged the Catholic Church in the mid-twentieth century, such as its appeal to non-Western cultures.
However, some Catholics have opposed Pope Francis. For example, some traditionalist and conservative critics were outraged by his decision to reverse Benedict and reimpose restrictions on celebrating the old Latin Mass. This fuelled right-wing opposition to Francis, who had already angered some conservatives with his outreach to gays and divorced Catholics. Some Catholics have also criticised Francis for not emphasising the church's opposition to abortion enough, although he has reiterated the church's anti-abortion stance and described abortion as a "throwaway culture".
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His approach to LGBTQ issues
Pope Francis' approach to LGBTQ issues has been described as a seismic shift toward acceptance and inclusion, with many LGBTQ Catholics hopeful that a new pope will finish what he started. Francis has been noted for his willingness to engage with LGBTQ people and groups, offering blessings and pastoral encouragement, and urging parents not to condemn their gay children. He has also voiced support for civil unions and the decriminalisation of homosexuality, and clarified that transgender people can be baptised and serve as godparents.
However, his approach has also been described as complicated and inconsistent. While Francis has taken strides to make the Catholic Church more accepting of LGBTQ people, he has not changed official doctrine, and some of his comments and actions have been criticised as contradictory and falling short of the community's hopes. For instance, while he has urged priests to bless same-sex unions, he has also stated that such blessings should not resemble traditional marriage vows. He has also referred to “gender ideology” in negative terms and critiqued "gender theory" in his 2015 encyclical, "Laudato Sí", which some have interpreted as a condemnation of transgender identities.
One of the most famous and influential statements of his papacy regarding LGBTQ issues came during an inflight press conference in July 2013, when he responded to a question about gay clergy members by saying, "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?". This statement was seen as a dramatic departure from the way previous Catholic figureheads had spoken about gay people and set the tone for a papacy that would be more conciliatory towards the LGBTQ community than its predecessors. However, immediately following this statement, Francis reiterated that homosexuality is still considered a sin under Catholic doctrine.
In terms of specific actions and policies, Pope Francis has been noted for his personal engagement with LGBTQ individuals and groups. In October 2013, he responded to a letter from Kairos, an organisation of LGBTQ Catholics in Florence, Italy, assuring them of his blessing. This marked the first time a pope had formally responded to an LGBTQ Catholic group. In September 2020, he met with Italian parents of LGBTQ children, telling them that "the Church does not exclude [LGBTQ children] because she loves them deeply". He has also met with representatives of LGBTQ Catholic organisations such as New Ways Ministry and Outreach, and in 2015, he included gay, transgender, and HIV-positive prisoners in a luncheon.
Despite these gestures of inclusion, some LGBTQ Catholics have expressed disappointment that Pope Francis did not go far enough to change official doctrine or fully endorse LGBTQ rights within the Church. In 2014, while millions marched in Rome for marriage equality, Pope Francis delivered a speech stressing the importance of children having heterosexual parents. He has also condemned what he described as "lobbying by gay people" and stated that blessings of same-sex couples could not resemble traditional marriage vows. These actions and statements have been seen as a blow to queer Catholics who had hoped for greater affirmation of their relationships and parenting abilities.
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Abortion, euthanasia and women's ordination
Abortion, euthanasia, and women's ordination
Pope Francis has been outspoken about his anti-abortion stance, stating that abortion is "murder" and a "grave evil". He has emphasized the Church's teaching that human life is sacred and must be protected from conception until its natural end. He has also called abortion a "sin" and a "crime", and has encouraged anti-abortion activists, referring to them as "Good Samaritans".
In 2015, Pope Francis announced that priests could refrain from enforcing the penalty of excommunication for abortion during the Jubilee year, and this policy was made permanent in an apostolic letter issued in November 2016. Additionally, Pope Francis has reaffirmed the position that Catholic politicians who campaign and vote for permissive abortion laws should refrain from receiving the Eucharist.
Pope Francis has also spoken against euthanasia and medically assisted suicide, denouncing what he calls the false compassion of these practices. He has asked the faithful to pray for the terminally ill and their families, emphasizing the need for physical and spiritual care. The Catholic Church's teaching specifically condemns euthanasia and willful self-destruction as moral "infamies".
Regarding women's ordination, Pope Francis has stated that women cannot be ordained as priests, citing the Petrine principle. However, he has acknowledged the pain that this causes for some women and has emphasized the important roles that women play in the life of the Church. He has also taken steps to include women in leadership positions, such as appointing women to the Dicastery of Bishops and modifying Canon 230.1 to allow both men and women to be formally installed as lectors and acolytes. Pope Francis has also initiated commissions to study the issue of women deacons, but no conclusive decisions have been made.
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Climate change and the economy
Pope Francis has been vocal about climate change during his time as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. He has framed climate change as a spiritual issue, connecting global warming with poverty and social upheaval. In doing so, he has inspired a global movement to take action against climate change.
In 2015, Pope Francis devoted an entire encyclical to climate change, citing scientific consensus that the Earth is warming due to human activity. He called for a shift away from an "irresponsible lifestyle connected with the Western model" and specifically called out the United States for its high per-person emissions. The Pope sees cooperation among governments and international organisations as key to addressing climate change. During his papacy, the Vatican hosted conferences with various stakeholders, including mayors, religious leaders, money managers, and oil companies, to find solutions.
Pope Francis has urged everyone to move beyond merely appearing concerned about the climate crisis and instead work towards substantial changes. He has criticised the "technocratic paradigm" that pursues "infinite or unlimited growth" and believes that goodness and truth stem from technological and economic power. Instead, he advocates for a more humane economy, one that is not ruled by "the mentality of maximum gain at minimal cost" but instead shows concern for the planet and vulnerable people.
The Pope's stance on climate change has resonated with Catholics worldwide, although views vary. According to a 2022 survey, 44% of Catholics agree with the Pope's stance that the Earth is warming due to human activity, while 29% attribute it to natural patterns, and 13% believe there is no solid evidence of warming. Partisan and demographic differences also play a role in Catholics' views, with Democrats, younger people, and Hispanics more likely to share the Pope's concerns about climate change.
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His informality and pastoral approach
Pope Francis has been viewed favourably by 75% of US Catholics, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. This is a decrease from 83% in 2021 and 90% in 2015, but still higher than his immediate predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Francis has been described as having a less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors. He is known for his pastoral approach, choosing to reside in a guesthouse rather than the papal apartments, and wearing simpler vestments. He has also been described as having a sharp and unscripted style, with a focus on mission and outreach.
Francis has been praised for his outreach to marginalised groups, including LGBTQ+ people, divorced Catholics, and Muslims. He has emphasised the need to accept, welcome, and accompany LGBTQ+ people, including children, and supported civil unions for same-sex couples. He has also allowed ordinary priests to absolve Catholic women who have had abortions, and called for women who have had abortions to be accompanied spiritually by the Church.
In addition, Francis has been praised for his environmentalism and his focus on climate change. He was the first pope to use scientific data in a major teaching document, calling global warming a largely human-caused problem. He has also criticised consumerism and overdevelopment and made action on climate change a leading focus of his papacy.
Overall, Pope Francis's pastoral and informal approach has been well-received by many Catholics, although there is some dissatisfaction among those who prefer a more traditional and conservative approach.
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Frequently asked questions
A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 75% of US Catholics view Pope Francis favourably. This is down from a peak rating of 90% in 2015.
Pope Francis has taken a less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors. He has been described as more accommodative on LGBTQ+ topics, criticising trickle-down economics, consumerism, and overdevelopment, and emphasising the need to act on climate change. He has also changed the Catholic Church's teachings on the death penalty and nuclear weapons.
Pope Francis has emphasised the need to accept, welcome, and accompany LGBTQ+ people, famously stating, "Who am I to judge?". He has also supported civil unions as legal protections for same-sex couples and allowed the blessing of individuals in same-sex relationships.
Pope Francis has upheld the Catholic Church's traditional teaching against abortion, describing it as evidence of today's "throwaway culture". However, he has also called for spiritual accompaniment for women who have had abortions and allowed ordinary priests to absolve Catholic women who have terminated pregnancies.
Pope Francis has criticised an administrative approach that prevails over a pastoral approach, saying: "When the church does not emerge from itself to evangelize, it becomes self-referential and therefore becomes sick...The evils that, over time, occur in ecclesiastical institutions have their root in self-referentiality, a kind of theological narcissism." He has also emphasised the importance of a "healthy decentralisation" of the Church.
