A new poll conducted in the United States indicates record levels of dissatisfaction among North Americans and the country's Catholics toward Pope Francis. Nevertheless, those who have a positive opinion of the head of the Catholic Church are still in the majority.
The poll, conducted by the Gallup Institute between December 1 and December 20, shows that 58% of Americans say they approve of Francis and his positions, while 30% of respondents have an unfavorable opinion of the pope a new record since He was first evaluated ten years ago. 77% of the country's Catholics approve of it and 17% oppose it (another negative record).
At the start of his pontificate in 2013, Francis had an approval rating of 58% among Americans and 80% among the country's Catholics. Those numbers rose the following year, when he had 76% support among Americans and 89% among Catholics.
The new Gallup poll also shows that Catholics who consider themselves politically progressive give the pope the highest positive rating: 70%. Among conservatives, just 42% say they agree. Among moderates, his approval rating is 66%
According to the institute, the study concludes that North Americans, including Catholics, continue to view Pope Francis positively. However, among conservative audiences, the rating is the worst since 2013.
The survey was conducted after Vacitano fired conservative Bishop Jospeh Stricland of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, last November, who was known for systematically criticizing Francis' papacy and his progressive positions.
Gallup also reports that the Pope's historic opening to blessing samesex couples or those in what the Catholic Church considers to be an “irregular” situation, announced on December 18 last year, had no significant impact on the study's findings.