(ZENIT News / Rome, 14.02.2023).- According to a Demos survey, carried out last December by the Center-Left Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Pope Francis is one of the public figures that inspires most confidence in Italians. Specifically, according to the results of the survey “Relationship Between Italians and the State,” the Holy Father has the confidence of 68% of the population. However, it’s not the confidence he had at the start of his pontificate, when he enjoyed the confidence of 90% of Italians. Nevertheless, his percentage continues to be among the highest. In fact, at the summit of confidence he is accompanied only by the Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
Although the Pontiff still enjoys the confidence of two-thirds of the Italian population, the two groups whose confidence in the Pope decreased over the last decade are older people and women.
According to their political position, the survey shows that the highest degree of appreciation for him comes from the Democratic Party voters (85%), followed by Terzo Polo and Italia Viva (80%). 73% of Fratelli di Italia voters have confidence in the Pope, as opposed to Liga voters, where he is less appreciated. La Repubblica newspaper suggests that it’s due to the Pontiff’s positions on immigration and migratory policy, which that Party defends.
The survey also shows that 20% of Italians go to church at least once a week. 30% of the population never goes to church. Ten years ago, at the beginning of Pope Francis’ pontificate, the percentages were the other way round. By age groups, 26% of people older than 65 go to Mass every week. Among those younger than 30, the figure decreases to 12%. By sexes, women have a regular religious practice of 21% whereas that of men is of 14%.
