In the aftermath of Pope Leo XIV’s historic ascension as the first U.S.-born leader of the Roman Catholic Church, American Catholics are expressing enthusiasm for their new pontiff. A recent poll highlights that around two-thirds of American Catholics hold a “very” or “somewhat” favorable opinion of Pope Leo. In contrast, approximately 3 out of 10 Catholics remain undecided, while less than 1 in 10 have an unfavorable view.
This sentiment extends beyond the Catholic community to the general American public, where many are still forming opinions about Pope Leo. Nonetheless, those who have an opinion predominantly view him positively. The survey, conducted by the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, reveals that 44% of U.S. adults have a “somewhat” or “very” favorable opinion of him, with only about 1 in 10 expressing unfavorable views.
Pope Leo’s tenure comes at a time when many churchgoers desire unity in a divided church. American Catholics, regardless of their visions for the church’s future, are optimistic about his role. Terry Barber, a Sacramento-based Catholic, anticipates that Leo will aim for a more progressive church and is eager for potential changes under his leadership.
Leo enjoys bipartisan appeal. About half of Democratic Americans view him favorably, alongside roughly 4 in 10 Republicans and independents. Meanwhile, Republicans are slightly more hesitant than Democrats to form an opinion, with about half saying they need more information. Interestingly, Republicans are no more likely than Democrats to hold an unfavorable opinion of him.
Victoria Becude, a Catholic from Florida who identifies as a Republican, is excited about the U.S.-born pope and hopes he will guide the country back toward its faith roots. Despite having conservative values on matters like same-sex relationships, she stands firm on supporting reproductive rights, illustrating the complex perspectives within the Catholic community.
Despite the ongoing formation of broader opinions, some right-leaning Catholics hope Pope Leo will uphold traditional doctrines concerning issues like same-sex marriage and abortion. His commitment to dialogue and reconciliation in political spheres has earned him hopeful anticipation from across the ideological spectrum.
Pope Leo’s previous contributions, such as advocating for women’s roles in church governance, hint at potential continuity in addressing gender roles within the Church. Some Catholics, like Donald Hallstone from Oregon, anticipate women will assume more leadership positions as a response to current shortages within the Church.
However, the full extent of Pope Leo’s impact will unfold as his agenda becomes fully apparent. Many Americans, particularly those from other religious backgrounds or younger populations, remain undecided. As the first U.S.-born pontiff, Pope Leo carries expectations of modernizing the church, as expressed by young adults like Mercedes Drink, who hopes for increased church diversity and inclusivity during his papacy.