(ZENIT News / Washington, DC, 15.04.204).- Recent research revealed that the valuation of Pope Francis among American Catholics has slumped from 83% in 2021 to 75% in 2024. Those who regard the Pontiff unfavourably also say that it represents a change in the Church’s direction.
The growing partisan division in the nation is at the heart of the slump in Pope Francis’ valuation.
The survey’s data shows the partisan breach in the opinions on Pope Francis, which continues to be as wide as ever, with the Democrats giving the Pontiff a favourable valuation of 89%, whereas the Republicans give him a favourable valuation of 63%.
“The general diminution in the favourability reflects a growing dissatisfaction with the current Pope among Catholics that identify themselves as Republicans, or Independents that sympathize with the Republican Party,” concluded the survey carried out by the Pew Research Center.
Pew’s survey was published on April 12 and explores American Catholics ‘ view of Pope Francis and the Church. It’s the 14th survey of this type made by the entity during Francis’ pontificate and the 22nd in general.
To compile the data of the latest survey, Pew polled 2,019 Catholics from February 13 to February 25. Seven out of every ten Catholics polled also said that Pope Francis represents a major or minor change in the Church’s direction. It’s primarily those that regard him unfavourably that believe this.
In the course of the 14 surveys of this type carried out during the Holy Father’s pontificate, his average favourable valuation is approximately 82%, which has been constant over the last three years.
His lowest favourable valuation was 72% in September 2018, and his highest favourable valuation was 90% in February 2015.
The Pope’s favourable valuations place him between John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
Pope Francis’ highest valuation is lower than John Paul II’s lowest valuation.
Pew’s survey of John Paul II’s pontificate was carried out in 1987, 1990 and 1996, and his favourable valuation for those years was 91, 93 and 93%.
However, Pope Francis has had consistently higher favourable valuations than Pope Benedict XVI.
Pew carried out the same survey during Benedict XVI’s pontificate in 2005, 2007, twice in 2008 and in 2013, and his favourable valuations for those years was 67, 74, 74, 83 and 74%, respectively.
In regard to Pope Francis’ valuations in particular, a glance at the partisan divisions over the course of the years shows how much the opinions of each faction on the Pontiff have changed.
When this survey was done for the first time on Pope Francis in March 2013, Republicans had a more favourable view of him than the Democrats, giving him a favourable valuation of 84%, whereas the Democrats gave him a favourable valuation of 77%.
As opposed to the opinions on Pope Francis, there was no great partisan division on American Catholics‘ support of a series of drastic changes that could happen in the Church.
Regardless of ideological lines, the survey found that American Catholics want the Church to allow the use of contraceptives (83%), to allow priests to marry (69%) and to allow women to be priests (64%).
All these topics were supported by the so-called Left as well as the Right. However, in each case, support in general was greater among Democrats who, in the majority, said that they rarely or ever attend Mass, as compared to Republicans, who in the majority said they attend Mass at least once a week.
The survey also found that American Catholics want the Church to recognize the marriages of gay and lesbian couples.
However, on this topic there was a marked partisan division. The survey’s data shows that the change is backed by 72% of American Catholics that are Democrats, but only 36% by American Catholics that are Republicans.
Compared with the results of the survey a decade ago, the survey’s results reflect a slight increase in the number of American Catholics that support the idea that the Church allow birth control.
Meanwhile, the number of American Catholics that support the idea that the Church allow priests to marry, that women be priests, and that the marriages of gay and lesbian couples be recognized, is approximately the same.
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