Recent polls show that Pope Francis, who changed the face of the Pope, was widely popular among over 60 million American Catholics.
78% of American Catholics expressed their positive opinions in a Pew poll in early February, just before Francis’ long hospitalization in the case of dual pneumonia. The 88-year-old Pope passed away on Monday
Francis’ popularity among American Catholics remained constant throughout his decades of office as Pope.
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Pope Francis, seen here on September 26, 2024, died Monday at the age of 88 (Simon Whlfahrt/AFP/Getty)
“Pope Francis enjoyed widespread support among American Catholics, and certainly surpasses the popularity of American elected officials,” Wayne Lesperance, a veteran political scientist at the University of New England, told FOX News.
American Catholics generally saw Francis more aggressively than his predecessor of the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Francis took over Benedict XVI as Pope in March 2013, the latter being the first bishop of Rome to resign since the Middle Ages. (Maurix/Gammalafo via Getty Images)
Five Ways Pope Francis Influenced the Catholic Church
Benedict’s favor ratings ranged from 67% to 83% in his eight years as Pope.
Despite being popular with many Catholics, Francis’ attempts to make the church more inclusive have made him an enemy of some of the church’s conservative wings. And there were many pushbacks to the Pope’s moves to overhaul the very divided church.
These departments may have contributed to partisan divisions in terms of Francis’ Catholic views.
According to the Pew vote in February, 88% of American Catholics identified as Democrats or leaning towards Democrats had a positive view of the Pope. But Francis’ positive opinion fell to 69% among American Catholics who said they were Republicans or leaned towards the GOP.
After Pope Francis’ death, announced by the Vatican of New Jersey, on April 21, 2025, the flag is half price next to the Cathedral of Sacred Heart.
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“His reform agenda emphasized the value of trying to lift up the poorest and most marginalized individuals in the world, and played better with the Catholic Democrats than the Republicans,” Lesperance said.
“And despite being critical of the current administration’s position on walls, massive deportation and immigration construction, the late Pope enjoyed almost two-thirds of the support of the Catholic Republican Party. His legacy will be one of reform and social justice for Catholics around the world.”
Paul Steinhauser is a political reporter based in New Hampshire.
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