The popularity of Pope Francis among American adults continues its steep downward trend, reaching its lowest point since his election in 2013, according to the latest Rasmussen report.
Rasmussen’s national telephone and online survey, conducted in early December, finds that only 41 percent of American Adults have a favorable impression of Pope Francis – down from 61 percent in 2013, the year he was elected.
Moreover, 31 percent now view Francis unfavorably, nearly triple his unfavorability rating in 2013 (12 percent). Twenty-eight percent of U.S. adults say they are not sure.
Predictably, more Democrats (53 percent) have a favorable opinion of Pope Francis than Republicans (36 percent) or independents (34 percent). Similarly, 35 percent of Democrats believe Pope Francis has been better than most recent popes, while just 13 percent of Republicans and 16 percent of the unaffiliated share that opinion.
The Rasmussen report corroborates other recent polls showing that the pontiff has been steadily falling in favor with the public.
While Rasmussen does not attempt to explain the causes of Francis’ loss of popularity, the president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Right, Dr. Bill Donohue, offered his own analysis of the problem last April.
