(ZENIT News / Madrid, 05.26.2025).- A recent national survey suggests that most Spaniards see in the new pontiff Leo XIV not a rupture, but a promise—perhaps quieter in tone, but equally capable of shepherding the global Church.
The poll, conducted by the DYM Institute for «20minutos», reveals that nearly 69% of Spaniards believe Leo XIV’s papacy will be as good as, or even better than, that of his widely respected predecessor, Pope Francis. That confidence comes despite the fact that only 17.2% believe he will definitively surpass Francis’ legacy—an indication not of skepticism, but of the towering stature Francis holds in the public imagination.
While few expect revolution, fewer still fear regression: only 9.6% of respondents think Leo XIV will be a lesser pope, and just 8.5% viewed Francis’ papacy negatively—a remarkably low number in a pluralistic and increasingly secular society like Spain.
What’s striking in the data is not just the overall warmth toward both pontiffs, but how it transcends political boundaries. Pope Francis, who often defied ideological expectations with his blend of progressive rhetoric and traditional values, earned high marks across the political spectrum. Among center-left voters, 71.2% viewed his papacy favorably, closely mirrored by 68.5% on the center-right and 63.7% in the political center.
Partisan breakdowns reveal similar nuances. Supporters of Spain’s two major parties—PP (Partido Popular) and PSOE (Partido Socialista)—expressed nearly identical approval rates for Francis, at 71.3% and 71% respectively. Interestingly, while more PSOE voters found him “good” (46.5%) than PP voters (37.1%), both camps acknowledged his significance.
Yet the papacy’s reception wasn’t without tension. Voters aligned with the left-wing Sumar platform were more ambivalent, with nearly half (49.1%) describing Francis’ tenure as fair to poor. This may reflect friction over his doctrinal caution in areas such as LGBTQ+ inclusion or the role of women—issues where expectations have often outpaced Vatican pacing.
If Francis was the pope who brought the periphery to the center, Leo XIV is, at least for now, the figure of hopeful consolidation. His election—an American-born, Peru-based bishop with roots in France, Spain, and Italy—signals the continuation of a Church that is global in spirit but intimate in its pastoral style.
The fact that Spaniards already show strong confidence in his leadership, despite his low profile compared to Francis at the time of his election, suggests a desire not necessarily for novelty, but for moral credibility and steady stewardship.
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