Pope’s Popularity Trumps Trump
As Pope Francis, a new poll shows papal-approval ratings that would be the envy of the controversial Republican presidential candidate and other U.S. political leaders.
WASHINGTON — Pope Francis can look forward to a warm welcome in the United States this week, from both Catholic and non-Catholic Americans.
A new Rasmussen Reports poll of 1,000 Americans has the Holy Father’s total approval rating at 60%, half of whom viewed him “Very Favorably.” The news came just one day before his scheduled arrival in Washington.
The rating is even higher among American Catholics, who gave him a 78% approval rating, 48% of which report a “Very Favorable” view. Sixty-five percent of U.S. Catholics said the Pope has been good for the Church, compared to just 15% who believe he’s had a negative impact.
The impressive rating makes him the envy of the less favorably viewed, including President Barack Obama, Donald Trump and, well, most other political figures at this time. Or most times.
Just 23% view Pope Francis unfavorably, though this number has doubled since December 2013, when the newly elected Francis enjoyed a disapproval rating of only 12%. Only 8% of the overall 23% reported a “Very Unfavorable” opinion. Some Americans — 17% — remained undecided.
The two questions asked by Rasmussen were: “Do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable opinion of Pope Francis?” and “Have Pope Francis’ words and actions been good or bad for the Catholic Church? Or have they have had no impact on the Church?”
According to Rasmussen, women view Pope Francis more favorably than men. Older voters were the most likely to report a very-favorable opinion of the Pope.
The Pope is also more popular among Democrats than Republicans, with 58% of Democrats reporting their belief that Pope Francis’ words and actions have been good for the Church. This view is shared by 46% of Republicans and 42% of the politically unaffiliated.
When Time magazine announced Pope Francis as its “Person of the Year” in 2013, 23% percent of Americans agreed with this assessment.
Rasmussen Reports also found that 71% of all Americans say their religious faith is important in their daily life, 49% of whom consider it “Very Important.”
And two out of three Americans still believe the central tenets of Christianity: that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who was resurrected on Easter Day.
