Pope Francis popularity sinks in Argentina

Pope Francis popularity sinks in Argentina? Pope Francis approval ratings are sinking like a ship — even in Argentina, his home country — and it’s not a good sign The study, named «How People in Latin America and the U.S. See Pope Francis» (17 Pages), examines shifting opinions across six of the region’s largest nations: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

Pope Francis is far from the best Pope the Church has had, but he’s also one of the most wrongly demonized Popes.

A lot of anti-Francis rhetoric completely drinks the media Kool-Aid that he’s some heretical liberal, when that’s not the case pic.twitter.com/Q65qrEY4bL

— Pax Tube (@PaxTubeOfficial) September 5, 2023

Pope Francis popularity

Although Pope Francis popularity still retains his ‘cool’ factor among people, excitement for his leadership has cooled since he first took over the Church, per a study conducted last year through interviews with more than 6,200 adults.

Argentina (‘lowlights’ down 2.5%) Argentinians celebrate the rise of one of their own And in fact, when Jorge Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis in 2013, an astonishing 91% had a favorable opinion and saw his becoming pope as national pride.

Arrancó con 88% de positiva el Papa Francisco su gestión. El involucramiento en la política local le significó una caída a 36% ahora. Las palabras para describirlo son elocuentes y retratan la polémica de sus múltiples significados. pic.twitter.com/ejbrlWj5Gp

— Jorge Giacobbe (@JorgeGiacobbe) October 6, 2024

Today, that figure is down to an estimated 64%, showcasing a more conflicted and less enthusiastic sentiment towards the home town pope. But a larger pattern in Latin America indicates a gradual erosion of the pope’s popularity beyond Argentina, where he enjoys a strong image. By contrast, 68 per cent of Brazilians and Mexicans hold a positive view of him and fully three-quarters, or 72 per cent of Brazilian adults voice favourability toward him.

Compared to his 83% approval rating in Colombia late last year, Pope Francis has experienced a decline.

Pope Francis popularity in Chile

In Chile, where the Catholic Church has come under high profile public criticism in recent years, roughly half of adults have favorable impressions of the pope. Pope Francis popularity trends have not been static in the United States either. Americans enjoyed him most in 2015 and 2017, when more than two-thirds embraced the President. This has since declined to 57%.

Even so, American Catholics continue to be his most likely fans with 75% holding a warm view, compared with 51% of Protestants and 56% of the religiously unaffiliated. The report illustrates the intricate dance around Pope Francis’ image. His positions on social justice, the environment and working with marginalized communities have made him a hero to many from across the globe. But these very remarks have also incited pushback, particularly from some conservative corners of the Church and politics, further splitting the view of his papacy.

Pope Francis still a source of pride for many in Latin America, but the initial fanfare that greeted his election has grown more subdued — particularly in Argentina, where political and economic factors may be to blame. Despite the changing of public sentiment, the Pope’s message of Compassion, Humility and Social reform continues to resonate with millions worldwide making him one of the most influential figures of our time.