Gallup finds slump in US public approval of Pope Francis
July 22, 2015
Public approval ratings for Pope Francis have dipped in the US in the past year, according to new Gallup survey.
Gallup finds that 59% of Americans view the Pope favorably—down considerably from a 76% figure in 2014, but virtually the same as the 58% approval that he commanded shortly after his election to the papacy.
The slide in approval ratings is most evident among self-identified Catholics and conservatives. Among Catholics, approval for Pope Francis sank from 89% in 2014 to 71% in the new survey; among conservatives it plummeted from 72% to 45%.
The overall approval ratings for Pope Francis in the US remain higher than those recorded by Pope Benedict XVI, but below the marks of St. John Paul II.
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Posted by: bnewman -
Jul. 26, 2015 2:16 PM ET USA
Both left and right have their own agendas. Pope Francis has gone to some trouble to woo the left-of center politically inclined, and gained some popularity with that, but now is losing credibility with the more conservative. Unfortunately it is the Catholic conservatives who tend to me more faithful to the church and continue to support traditional catholic issues such as opposition to abortion and gay marriage. It would not be impossible to lose both left and right:I really hope not.
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Jul. 23, 2015 10:24 PM ET USA
The very essence of Catholicism is to counter the worldly. I expect the popularity numbers to drop as Pope Francis becomes more circumspect in his answers to interviewers' questions and more prudent in assessing the limits to his knowledge in areas that fall outside the realm of his expertise.
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Posted by: -
Jul. 23, 2015 4:09 PM ET USA
I would venture to guess that those who took the poll now realize that Pope Francis is faithful to Church teaching on faith & morals and has spoken against abortion & euthanasia. One can still respect mother nature & be pro-life.
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Posted by: rpp -
Jul. 22, 2015 4:45 PM ET USA
I love Pope Benedict XVI.
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Posted by: feedback -
Jul. 22, 2015 12:33 PM ET USA
It's good to know but it's also good to keep in mind that the office of the Holy Father, or any other Bishop, is not at all about popularity. "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man." [Luke 6:22, Matthew 5:11]
