Ethan Walker
Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of more than a billion Catholics worldwide, has had a controversial tenure. While he is regarded as an agent of change by most US Catholics, with 75% expressing a favorable view of him, there are also those who worry he might be a bad pope. Many Catholics, particularly traditionalists, have been disheartened by his comments and feel that he is divisive. They believe he is restricting the Latin Mass and driving away traditional Catholics. Pope Francis has also been criticised for his handling of sexual abuse cases in the Church and for promoting what some see as a change in Catholic doctrine. However, he is also praised for his focus on the poor and for growing the Church by being more open to the marginalised.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Viewed favorably by U.S. Catholics | 75% |
| Viewed favorably by Catholic Democrats | 89% |
| Viewed as an agent of change | 70% |
| Viewed as representing a major change | 42% |
| Viewed as representing a minor change | 30% |
| Viewed favorably by Catholic Republicans | Decreasing |
| Viewed as divisive | Some traditional Catholics |
| Viewed as orthodox | No |
| Viewed as tolerant | Some |
| Viewed as a figurehead of a "changing church" | Some |
| Viewed as a "man of the council of the media" | Some |
| Viewed as a spiritual leader | Yes |
| Viewed as emphasizing the Church's mission of mercy, justice, and evangelization | Yes |
| Viewed as succeeding in keeping the Church faithful to Jesus and his teachings | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
- Pope Francis is viewed favorably by 75% of US Catholics
- Many Catholics believe Francis represents a change in the church
- Some Catholics believe Francis is divisive and off-putting to traditional Catholics
- Francis has emphasized the Church's mission of mercy, justice, and evangelization
- Francis has been criticized for his controversial apostolic exhortation, *Amoris laetitia*
Pope Francis is viewed favorably by 75% of US Catholics
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pontiff and the first from South America, was elected after Pope Benedict XVI resigned in February 2013. Since then, he has been viewed favorably by a majority of US Catholics.
A Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2024 found that 75% of US Catholics view Pope Francis favorably. This is a decrease from 83% in 2021 and 90% in 2015. US Catholics have generally viewed Pope Francis more positively than his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, whose favorability ratings ranged from 67% to 83%. However, Pope Francis' ratings are lower than those of Pope Benedict XVI's predecessor, Pope John Paul II, who had favorable ratings of over 90%.
The partisan gap in views of Pope Francis has also widened, with 89% of Catholic Democrats expressing a favorable view, compared to 63% of Catholic Republicans. This is attributed to growing dissatisfaction among Catholic Republicans, while the views of Catholic Democrats have remained relatively stable over the last decade.
Pope Francis is seen as an agent of change by most US Catholics, with 42% saying he represents a major change in the direction of the church, and 30% saying he represents a minor change. Those with an unfavorable view of the pope are more likely to see him as a major change. Pope Francis' focus on the poor and marginalized has been well-received by many, but his comments about traditionalist Catholics and his restrictions on the Latin Mass have been disheartening for some.
While Pope Francis has received favorable ratings from US Catholics, his overall popularity in the US has been lower, with a rating of 58% in March 2025. His lowest rating of 53% was recorded in September 2018 after widespread allegations of sexual abuse by priests in Pennsylvania.
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Many Catholics believe Francis represents a change in the church
Many Catholics believe Pope Francis represents a change in the church. In a February 2024 survey, 70% of respondents said that Pope Francis represents a change in direction for the church, with 42% saying he represents a major change and 30% a minor change. Catholics who view Pope Francis unfavourably are more likely to believe that he represents a major change in the church.
Pope Francis has emphasised the Church's mission of mercy, justice and evangelisation. He has also focused on the poor, which some Catholics have praised as being "so Christian and beautiful". However, some traditionalist Catholics have found his comments about them disheartening, and believe that he is divisive.
Pope Francis has also been criticised for his handling of sexual abuse cases in the Church. In 2015, he supported Chilean Bishop Juan Barros, who was accused of covering up sexual abuse cases, including crimes committed against minors. In 2018, Pope Francis acknowledged that he had made "grave errors" in judgement and apologised to the victims.
Pope Francis has also been the subject of controversy regarding his publication of the apostolic exhortation *Amoris laetitia*. This publication sparked debate over whether it had changed the Catholic Church's sacramental discipline concerning access to the sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist for divorced couples who have remarried.
Despite these controversies, Pope Francis has been broadly popular among US Catholics throughout his tenure. In a 2024 survey, 75% of US Catholics expressed a positive view of him.
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Some Catholics believe Francis is divisive and off-putting to traditional Catholics
Pope Francis has been a highly divisive figure among Catholics. While he has been broadly popular among US Catholics, with 75% viewing him favourably, some traditional Catholics feel that he is driving them away from the Church with his approach.
Some Catholics have expressed that they feel Pope Francis is too tolerant and that his attempts to modernise the Church are off-putting. They believe that he is too focused on secular issues and not enough on tradition and discipline. For instance, his comments on COVID vaccinations, his support for a universal basic wage, and his commitment to the abolition of the death penalty have been controversial among some Catholics.
Pope Francis's approach to Church teachings has also been a source of division. For example, his publication of the apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia was controversial, as it was interpreted as changing the Church's sacramental discipline concerning access to the sacraments for divorced and civilly remarried couples. His stance on this issue, and his statement that "it is important that the divorced who have entered a new union should be made to feel part of the Church", has been seen by some as a challenge to traditional Catholic doctrine.
Furthermore, some Catholics have taken issue with Pope Francis's less formal approach to the papacy. For instance, his choice to reside in a guesthouse rather than the papal apartments has been noted as a break from tradition.
Overall, while Pope Francis has been viewed favourably by many Catholics, there are some who believe that he is too divisive and that his approach to the papacy is off-putting to traditional Catholics.
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Francis has emphasized the Church's mission of mercy, justice, and evangelization
Pope Francis has been regarded as an agent of change for the Catholic Church. Emphasizing the Church's mission of mercy, justice, and evangelization, he has called for a "missionary impulse" to transform the Church's customs and structures for the evangelization of the modern world. In his view, the Church should be troubled that many live without the consolation of knowing Christ and without a faith community for support.
Francis has placed a strong emphasis on joy, which he sees as "an antidote to the disenchantment and melancholy of the world today." He encourages all communities to devote effort to advancing along the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion. He promotes a decentralized Church, where local Bishops are not overshadowed by the Pope in the discernment of issues that arise in their territory.
Pope Francis has also stressed the importance of mercy, stating that it is "the air we breathe." He believes that God's mercy is a manifestation of His omnipotence and that the Church should bow down to those who are hurting, especially those wounded by sin, mirroring Jesus' actions in Jericho. The Pope has encouraged priests to ensure that the Church is a place of freely given mercy, where everyone feels welcomed, loved, forgiven, and encouraged to live the Gospel.
Furthermore, Francis has emphasized the need for dialogue with other cultures and religious traditions, following "the evangelical criterion of mercy." He has also focused on the inclusion of the poor in society, peace within society, and the spiritual motivations for mission. While some traditionalist Catholics have found his comments disheartening, others appreciate his efforts to grow the Church by being more open to the marginalized.
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Francis has been criticized for his controversial apostolic exhortation, *Amoris laetitia*
Pope Francis has been the subject of varied opinions among Catholics. While some Catholics believe that he represents a positive change in the church, others have criticised him for his controversial decisions and expressions. One such controversy was sparked by his apostolic exhortation, *Amoris Laetitia* (The Joy of Love).
Amoris Laetitia was released on the 8th of April 2016 and addresses the pastoral care of families. It covers a wide range of topics related to marriage and family life, including the contemporary challenges faced by families worldwide. The document encourages pastors and laypeople to support families and individuals in need.
The controversy surrounding *Amoris Laetitia* centres around whether it changed the Catholic Church's sacramental discipline concerning access to the sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist for divorced individuals who have remarried. In the document, Pope Francis wrote, "It is important that the divorced who have entered a new union should be made to feel part of the Church." This statement and other passages in the document have been interpreted by some as a shift in the Church's stance on marriage and divorce.
Critics of *Amoris Laetitia* argue that it promotes an allegedly heterodox practice through the use of ambiguous language. They claim that the document's teachings are incompatible with traditional Catholic doctrine and that it presents a danger to the faith. Some critics, like Brugger and Ryan, assert that the document implies and gives the impression of endorsing wrongdoing without explicitly stating it. They argue that the need for the Pope to emphasise certain interpretations as consistent with his intended meaning suggests a misunderstanding of the text.
In response to these criticisms, supporters of *Amoris Laetitia* have published books and articles defending its orthodoxy. They argue that the document does not explicitly assert anything contrary to divine revelation. Additionally, they highlight the valuable teachings and contributions it makes to the defence and preaching of the faith. Supporters also emphasise that the document addresses complex issues and should not be rushed through reading, as advised by Pope Francis himself.
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Frequently asked questions
Pope Francis has been viewed positively by many Catholics, with 75% of US Catholics viewing him favourably according to a Pew Research Center survey. He is known for his less formal approach to the papacy and emphasis on the Church's mission of mercy, justice and evangelization.
Pope Francis has been praised for his attempts to grow the Church by being more inclusive and open to marginalized communities. However, some traditional Catholics have criticized him for being divisive and restricting the Latin Mass.
Pope Francis has been seen as a representative of change in the Church, with many supporting his stance on COVID vaccinations and universal basic wage. While some Catholics disagree with his more "tolerant" decisions, others believe he should go further in reforming the Church.
