Pope Francis continues to enjoy widespread popularity across several Latin American nations, although his favorability rating in his homeland, Argentina, has declined significantly over the past decade. According to a report released by the Pew Research Center titled “How People in Latin America and the U.S. view Pope Francis,” attitudes towards the pontiff in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru remain generally positive, albeit less so than they were ten years ago.

The most significant drop in favorable perceptions was observed in Argentina, where a decade ago, 91% of the population held a positive opinion of Pope Francis. Presently, this figure has decreased to approximately 64%. When Jorge Bergoglio, then the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, ascended to the papacy as Pope Francis, the news was celebrated in Argentina akin to a World Cup victory. However, as his papacy nears its eleventh year, public sentiment towards the first Latin American pope has become more divided and subdued.

Pope Francis had clashed with some of Argentina’s prominent leaders during his tenure overseeing the Argentine church, and since his election as pope in 2013, he has not returned to his home country. Speculations by analysts and Vatican insiders suggest that the pope is seeking to steer clear of the political rifts that have plagued Argentina for decades.

Despite the decline in favorability in Argentina, the pope announced plans earlier this year to visit his native country in late 2024, marking his first visit since assuming the papacy. This visit comes at a time when Argentines are grappling with significant economic challenges, including rising poverty rates and soaring inflation.

The Pew Research Center’s poll also revealed that in Brazil and Mexico, 68% of adults hold a favorable opinion of Pope Francis. In Colombia, 72% share this sentiment, although this is a decrease from 83% in late 2013. In Chile, approximately half of adults view the pope positively.

In the United States, the pope’s favorability among adults peaked between 2015 and 2017, when seven out of ten Americans held a positive view of him. Presently, 57% of U.S. adults view Pope Francis favorably. The poll further indicated that American Catholics (75%) are more likely to have a favorable opinion of the pope compared to Protestants (51%) and the religiously unaffiliated (56%).