Pope Francis, who modified the face of the papacy, was once extensively well-liked by the greater than 60 million U.S. Catholics, in step with fresh public opinion polling.
Seventy-eight % of American Catholics expressed a good opinion of the pope in a Pew Ballot carried out in early February, in a while prior to Francis’ long hospitalization for a case of double pneumonia. The 88-year-old pope died on Monday
Francis’ reputation amongst American Catholics was once consistent all over his dozen-year tenure as pope, together with his favorability peaking at 90% in a February 2015 ballot through Pew.
CLICK HERE FOR LIVE FOX NEWS UPDATES ON THE PASSING OF POPE FRANCIS
Pope Francis, noticed right here on Sept. 26, 2024, died Monday at age 88. (Simon Wohlfahrt/AFP/Getty)
“Pope Francis loved extensive give a boost to amongst American Catholics – surely exceeding the recognition of any elected officers within the U.S.,” veteran political scientist Wayne Lesperance, the president of New England College, advised Fox Information.
U.S. Catholics additionally normally seen Francis extra definitely than his quick predecessor within the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Francis succeeded Benedict XVI as pontiff in March 2013, the latter being the primary bishop of Rome to surrender workplace for the reason that Heart Ages. (Maurix/Gamma-Rapho by way of Getty Pictures)
FIVE WAYS POPE FRANCIS IMPACTED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Benedict’s favorability scores ranged between 67% and 83% in Pew polling all the way through his 8 years as pope.
Whilst well-liked by many Catholics, Francis’ makes an attempt to make the church extra inclusive made him an enemy to a couple within the conservative wing of the church. And there was once various pushback towards the pope’s strikes to overtake an excessively divided church.
The ones divisions can have contributed to a partisan divide in terms of U.S. Catholics’ perspectives of Francis.
In line with the February Pew Ballot, 88% of U.S. Catholics who recognized as Democrats or leaned towards the Democratic Party had a favorable view of the pope. However favorable critiques of Francis dropped to 69% amongst U.S. Catholics who mentioned they have been Republicans or leaned towards the GOP.
Flags are at half-staff subsequent to the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Center after the demise of Pope Francis was once introduced through the Vatican, in Newark, New Jersey, April 21, 2025. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“His reform time table, emphasizing values that sought to raise up the poorest, maximum marginalized folks on the earth, performed higher with Catholic Democrats than Republicans,” Lesperance famous.
“And in spite of being important of the present management’s place on construction the wall, mass deportations, and migrants, the overdue pope loved the give a boost to of just about two-thirds of Catholic Republicans. His legacy can be one in every of reform and social justice for Catholics around the globe.”
