Pope Francis’ Popularity Among U.S. Catholics
Since assuming office in 2013, Pope Francis has been an internationally recognized figure, serving as the spiritual leader of over one billion Catholics worldwide. Public opinion has been closely monitored during his term, especially by the Pew Research Center, which has carried out multiple studies to figure out how the Pope is seen by various groups and geographical areas. These polls show political divisions, favoritism trends, and opinions toward possible reforms within the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis has generally been well-liked by Catholics in the United States since taking office. His approval rating reached a peak of 90% in February 2015. But according to a survey taken from February 3–9, 2025, just before he was admitted to the hospital for kidney and lung problems, 78% of American Catholics had a positive opinion of him. Although there has been a minor decrease, the majority still supports it strongly. In contrast, St. John Paul II was viewed favorably by more than 90% of American Catholics in surveys taken between 1987 and 1996, while his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, had favorability ratings ranging from 67% to 83% during his reign.
Political Polarization and Perceptions of Pope Francis
When it comes to Pope Francis, there has been an evident partisan rift among American Catholics during the last seven years. Compared to 69% of their Republican counterparts, 88% of Catholic Democrats or those leaning Democratic Party had a positive opinion of the Pope, according to the 2025 survey. Over time, this polarization has grown more acute, with Democratic opinions remaining mostly unchanged and Catholic Republicans growing more skeptical of the Pope. This gap demonstrates how, even within a single religious community, political affiliations can affect how people see religion.
Views on Church Reforms Under Pope Francis
Many people hold the view that Pope Francis is a change agent in the Catholic Church. A little over 70% of Catholics in the United States think he signifies a change in the Church’s course, with 42% finding this to be a major shift. It’s interesting to note that people who have an adverse view of the Pope are more likely to think that his influence has caused a significant shift (54%) than people who have a positive opinion (41%). This implies that opinions of his leadership are strongly correlated with how change is perceived.
Changing Attitudes Toward Catholic Teachings
The surveys also looked at how American Catholics perceived different doctrines of the Church and possible reforms:
Contraception: A remarkable 83% of those surveyed think the Church ought to allow birth control use.
Communion for Unmarried Cohabitants: 75% of respondents believe that unmarried Catholics who live with a romantic partner ought to be permitted to partake in Communion.
Priests Who Get Married: 69% of people are in favor of priests getting married.
64% of the survey participants favor the ordination of women as priests.
Marriages between homosexual and lesbian couples should be approved by the Church, the opinion of 54% of respondents.
According to these results, a sizable segment of the Catholic laity in the United States is in favor of reforms that are in line with more progressive ideals, which reflects changing social standards and a desire for the Church to change with them.
Global Perspectives: Pope Francis’ Popularity in Latin America
At first, Pope Francis, who was born Jorge Bergoglio in Argentina, was overwhelmingly supported on his native continent. Recent polls, however, show that his popularity is declining in several Latin American nations:
Argentina: In 2024, favorability was 64%, down from 91% in 2013–2014.
Mexico and Brazil: Favorability dropped to 68% in both nations.
Colombia: In 2024, favorable opinions fell from 83% in late 2013 to 72%.
Chile: The Pope is seen favorably by only roughly half of the population at large.
The most apparent drop is in Argentina, where the initial enthusiasm has worn off, likely as an outcome of internal political dynamics and the Pope’s extended absence from the nation. even though the level of support has decreased over the last 10 years, majorities in these countries still have a positive opinion of Pope Francis despite these drops.
Consequences and Prospects
The information collected via these polls reveals a complicated relationship between political affiliation and cultural background, and religious leadership. Growing political polarization in the US affects how people view Pope Francis and reflects larger societal divisions. Shifting favorability ratings across the world, especially in Latin America, might be linked to local political environments, unfulfilled expectations, or varying perspectives on the Pope’s deeds and teachings.
Pope Francis’ Popularity: Implications and Future Outlook for the Catholic Church
Being aware of these varied opinions is essential to the Church’s interaction with its broad worldwide audience as Pope Francis continues his pontificate. The information gathered from these polls offers helpful direction for addressing the issues and goals of Catholics around the globe, ensuring that the Church stays relevant and responsive in a world that is changing quickly.
This article has been written after an in-depth study of the Pew Research Center’s analysis on Pope Francis and public opinion, available at Pew Research Center.