A new Pew Research Center survey finds most U.S. Catholics view Pope Francis favorably. 

Three-quarters of U.S. Catholics view him more positively than Pope Benedict XVI, his immediate predecessor. However, Francis’ favorability is lower than Pope John Paul II (91% favorability in 1987, 93% in 1990, and 93% in 1996).

At 75%, the Pope’s favorability is down eight percentage points since 2021. Francis became pope in 2013.

The survey also noted a partisan gap that is “now as large as it’s ever been.” Eighty-four percent of U.S. Catholics who are Democrats or Democrat-leaning have a positive view of Pope Francis, compared to 63% of Republican or Republican-leaning U.S. Catholics.

In addition to the pope’s favorability, the survey also found that most U.S. Catholics (72%) see Francis as an agent of change and 42% see him as a major change for the church. Those surveyed welcomed more change for the Catholic church, with 83% in favor of the church endorsing the use of contraception, 75% saying the church should permit Catholics to take Communion regardless of their marital status and 69% who think priests should be allowed to get married. In addition, 64% of U.S. Catholics agree that women should be welcomed into the priesthood and 54% believe the church should recognize gay and lesbian marriages.

“The overall drop in favorability reflects growing dissatisfaction with the current pope among Catholics who identify as Republicans or independents who lean toward the Republican Party,” the Pew Research Center said. “Fully 35% of Catholic Republicans and Republican leaners now say they have an unfavorable view of Pope Francis, compared with just 7% of Catholic Democrats and Democratic leaners.”

For the survey’s methodology, click