Catholic World News News Feature
Polish survey shows enduring influence of John Paul II March 26, 2007
According to the results of surveys undertaken by Poland’s Center of the Thought of John Paul II, 94% of Poles speak of the late Pontiff as “my "Pope” and identify Pope Benedict XVI’s predecessor as an important moral authority.
Some 75% of those who responded to the survey prayed at least once for the beatification of the Krakow's former archbishop. More than 90% have at least once listened to a media broadcast of a homily by the former Pontiff, while 50% reported at least once reading in the press a homily by the Polis Pope.
And 33% of Poles responded that they had read at least one book written by the former Pope and 75% reported that they are familiar the teaching of the Polish pontiff. An ever greater number, 80%, declared that they live according to the teachings of John Paul II.
The findings also revealed that 96% of respondents identify themselves as Catholics. Of these, 66% said that they believe and follow the teachings of the Catholic Church while 33% responded that they believe, but in their own way.
The survey found that 60% of Poles attend Holy Mass at least once a week while another 25% reported that they do so at least once a month.
The survey was conducted last November, further testing will be undertaken to determine the level of knowledge about particular aspects of the Pope’s teaching.
