Michael Brooks
Pope Francis is generally popular among Catholics, with a favourable opinion rating of 79.3% according to a 2021 poll by Saint Leo University. However, his popularity has fluctuated over time, with a decline in 2018 due to his handling of the sex abuse crisis in the US Catholic Church. While his popularity has rebounded since then, there are still signs of growing discontent among Catholic Republicans, who view him as too liberal and naive. Despite this, Pope Francis remains well-regarded, with many Catholics describing him as compassionate and humble.
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What You'll Learn
Pope Francis' popularity among Catholic Americans
Pope Francis remains popular among Catholic Americans, with a majority expressing a favourable view of him. However, there are signs of growing discontent, particularly among Catholic Americans on the political right.
According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in March 2021, 82% of Catholic Americans have a favourable opinion of Pope Francis. This is nearly identical to the share of Catholic Americans who had a favourable view of Francis in February 2020 (82%) and in September 2021 (83%). These numbers have remained fairly stable, with only minor differences between phone and online surveys.
The Saint Leo University Polling Institute also found that Pope Francis holds a 56% favorability rating among Catholic Americans in Florida, which is slightly down from 57.2% in October 2020.
While Pope Francis remains quite popular among Catholic Americans, there are some signs of disenchantment. A Pew Research Center survey from 2018 found that the share of Catholic Republicans who view Pope Francis as "too liberal" has more than doubled since 2015 (from 23% to 55%). Additionally, one-third of Catholic Republicans say Francis is "naive", up from 16% in 2015. The declining confidence in Francis is also related to the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, with many Catholic Americans rating his handling of the crisis as "poor".
Overall, Pope Francis continues to be popular among Catholic Americans, but there are some signs of growing polarization along partisan lines and dissatisfaction with his handling of certain issues.
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Catholics' views of Pope Francis by political leaning
Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of more than 1 billion Catholics worldwide, has been viewed as a polarizing figure among Catholics, with a growing partisan gap in approval ratings. While majorities on both ends of the political spectrum have a positive view of the pope, there is a significant difference between the views of Catholic Democrats and those of Catholic Republicans.
Catholic Democrats' Views of Pope Francis
Catholic Democrats and those who lean toward the Democratic Party generally hold a positive view of Pope Francis. In a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, nearly 9 in 10 Catholic Democrats and those who lean Democrat (89%) expressed favorable views of the pope. This is consistent with earlier surveys, where almost 90% of Catholics who are Democrats or lean Democratic held a positive view of him. Catholic Democrats see Pope Francis as an agent of change, with many welcoming more reform in the Catholic Church. They are more likely to support church reforms, such as recognizing the marriages of gay and lesbian couples, and show higher support for legal abortion.
Catholic Republicans' Views of Pope Francis
On the other hand, Catholic Republicans and those who lean toward the Republican Party are more divided in their views of Pope Francis. While two-thirds of Catholic Republicans and Republican leaners (63%) expressed a positive view of the pope in the 2024 Pew survey, there has been a notable decline in favorability over time. The decrease in favorability among Catholic Republicans reflects growing dissatisfaction with Pope Francis, with some accusing him of sowing confusion on church doctrines and wielding an autocratic leadership style. Catholic Republicans are less supportive of certain church reforms, particularly those related to recognizing the marriages of gay and lesbian couples, and are more likely to support a traditional or conservative approach on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage.
Impact of Pope Francis' Papacy
Pope Francis' papacy has had a significant impact on Catholicism, energizing Catholics but also galvanizing a traditionalist stream within the American church. His emphasis on social justice, environmental issues, and migrants' rights marks a departure from the conservative pontificates of his predecessors. Pope Francis' efforts toward a healthy decentralisation of the Church have polarized opinions, with some fearing a dilution of the universal message. His death may lead to a major shift in the Catholic Church, with the next pope likely to be more conservative.
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Catholics' views of Pope Francis by Mass attendance
Pope Francis is well-regarded among Catholics in the United States, with 80-82% expressing a favorable opinion of him in several surveys. However, his popularity does not seem to have significantly impacted Mass attendance in the US, as rates have remained steady at around 40% for weekly Mass attendance among Catholics.
While Catholic Republicans have grown more negative toward Pope Francis over the years, with 69-73% expressing a favorable opinion, the views of Catholic Democrats have barely changed, with 87-89% expressing a positive view. This partisan divide has been consistent since 2018.
Catholics' views of Pope Francis do not differ significantly by frequency of Mass attendance. Among weekly Mass-goers, 84% said they have a very or mostly favorable opinion of the pope, compared to 82% of Catholics who attend Mass less often or never.
There are some differences in opinions between frequent and infrequent Mass attendees on specific issues. For example, most Catholics who attend Mass weekly oppose recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples and ordaining women priests, while most non-weekly attendees support these ideas. However, on questions about allowing priests to marry, contraception, and Communion for Catholics living with a partner outside of marriage, at least half of Catholics in both groups say the church should take these steps.
While Pope Francis's popularity has not led to a measurable increase in Mass attendance in the US, there is some evidence of a "Francis effect" in other parts of the world. Italian Catholic churches have reported a rise in attendance since his election, with 51% of 250 priests interviewed noting a significant increase. A smaller survey of 22 British cathedrals also reported a "Francis effect," with 65% noticing higher attendance.
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Catholics' views of Pope Francis's handling of the clergy abuse crisis
Pope Francis is generally well-regarded among Catholics, with a favourable opinion rating of 79.3% according to a 2021 poll by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute. However, his popularity has fluctuated over the years, especially in the context of the clergy abuse crisis.
In 2019, Pope Francis became the first pontiff to publicly admit that priests had sexually abused nuns, and he pledged to do more to address this issue. He abolished the rule of "pontifical secrecy" to improve transparency in sexual abuse cases and established procedures for dioceses to report allegations and foster accountability. These actions were largely well-received, with anti-abuse advocates commending Pope Francis for grasping the systemic nature of the problem and meeting empathetically with victims.
However, some critics, including activists for survivors of clerical sexual abuse, argue that Pope Francis has not done enough to bring about meaningful reform. They point to instances where he defended accused bishops and priests, such as in Chile in 2018, and claim that his measures have been designed to produce little impact. There is also criticism that the church's penchant for secrecy and its habit of acting only under outside pressure have not been adequately addressed.
The clergy abuse crisis has undoubtedly presented a significant challenge to Pope Francis's papacy, and while he has taken steps to improve transparency and accountability, some Catholics believe he could have done more to bring about systemic change and ensure justice for survivors.
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Catholics' views of Pope Francis's performance
Pope Francis's popularity among Catholics has fluctuated over the years, with some surveys indicating high approval ratings and others suggesting a decline in popularity. Overall, Pope Francis enjoys a favourable view among Catholics, with many praising his humility and compassion.
Catholics' Views on Pope Francis's Performance
According to a Pew Research Center survey in 2018, 84% of American Catholics expressed a "favourable" view of Pope Francis, a figure that remained virtually unchanged in 2021, with 83% of U.S. Catholics viewing him favourably. A similar poll by Saint Leo University in Florida in 2021 found that among Catholics nationally, the Pope's favourable opinion rating was 79.3%, a slight decrease from 79.9% in October 2020.
Pope Francis's popularity among Catholics appears to transcend various subgroups, including Catholic women and men, younger and older Catholics, and those who attend Mass regularly and those who do not. However, there are some political differences, with Catholic Democrats expressing more favourable opinions of the Pope than Catholic Republicans, who often view him as "too liberal" and "naive".
In terms of specific areas of his performance, Catholics have offered varying assessments. Roughly six in ten Catholics (58%) believe he is doing an "excellent" or "good" job appointing new bishops and cardinals, and 55% approve of his handling of environmental issues. However, his handling of the clergy sex abuse crisis has received mixed reviews, with only three in ten Catholics rating his response as "excellent" or "good".
While Pope Francis generally maintains a favourable view among Catholics, there have been signs of growing discontent and polarisation along partisan lines. His popularity among U.S. Catholics took a hit in 2018, with his overall favourability among Catholics dropping to 72% that year. Despite these fluctuations, Pope Francis remains well-regarded by a significant portion of the Catholic population.
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Frequently asked questions
Pope Francis is quite popular among Catholics in the United States, with 82% to 83% expressing a favourable opinion of him in 2021. However, this is down from a peak of 90% in February 2015, and his popularity among Catholics has been declining since 2018, when it stood at 72%.
Pope Francis' popularity among Catholics has been influenced by several factors, including his handling of the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church, his views on social issues, and his efforts to spread the Catholic faith. While many Catholics appreciate his humility and warmth, others have criticised his defence of "traditional morals".
Pope Francis' popularity among Catholics in the United States varies along partisan lines. While the majority of Catholic Democrats hold a favourable view of the Pope, with 90% to 93% expressing support, Catholic Republicans are more divided. The share of Catholic Republicans who view Pope Francis as "too liberal" has increased, with 55% holding this view in 2018, up from 23% in 2015.
Pope Francis has been rated more positively than his immediate predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. However, his popularity among Catholics does not reach the heights of Pope John Paul II during the late 1980s and mid-1990s.
