Just over a month into Pope Leo XIV’s historic papacy as the first pontiff born in the United States, a fresh poll reveals that American Catholics are embracing their new religious leader with considerable enthusiasm. The survey, conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, indicates that nearly two-thirds of American Catholics hold a “very” or “somewhat” favorable opinion of Pope Leo. In contrast, only a small minority—fewer than 1 in 10—express unfavorable views. Meanwhile, around 3 in 10 American Catholics say they don’t know enough about him to form an opinion.
Outside the Catholic community, many Americans are still evaluating Pope Leo’s leadership, but the overall sentiment among those who do have an opinion is largely positive. The poll shows that 44% of U.S. adults view the new pope favorably, while about the same percentage say they haven’t yet formed an opinion. Again, just 1 in 10 adults report an unfavorable impression.
This wave of support cuts across political and ideological lines, which is particularly significant given the current polarization within the church. As Pope Leo vows to foster unity within the Catholic community, people from various backgrounds and beliefs are expressing hope for what his tenure might bring.
Terry Barber, a 50-year-old Catholic from Sacramento, California, and a Democrat, believes Pope Leo could lead the Church toward a more inclusive future. “I’m optimistic. Certainly, the first pope from the United States is significant,” Barber remarked. “Since he worked under the previous pope, I’m sure he has similar ideas, but certainly some that are original, of his own. I’m looking forward to seeing what, if any changes, come about under his leadership.”
The poll highlights Pope Leo’s broad bipartisan appeal. Roughly half of Democrats view him favorably, while about 4 in 10 Republicans and independents share that sentiment. Interestingly, Republicans appear more hesitant to form an immediate opinion—about half of them say they don’t know enough about the pope, compared to about 4 in 10 Democrats. Still, members of both parties are equally unlikely to view him negatively, with about 1 in 10 expressing unfavorable views in each group.
Victoria Becude, a 38-year-old Catholic and Republican from Florida, expressed enthusiasm for the pope’s potential influence on American spirituality. “I’m rooting for him,” she said. “I hope that America can get back to faith, and I hope he can do that.”
While political affiliations don’t always match religious leanings, the survey found no significant partisan divide among Catholics in how they perceive Pope Leo. Believers from both liberal and conservative Catholic backgrounds are hopeful that he can help mend divisions that widened during Pope Francis’ tenure.
During a recent prayer, Pope Leo criticized the global surge in nationalist political movements and called for reconciliation and open dialogue—a reflection of his broader promise to position the Catholic Church as a force for peace.
Pope Leo’s record before becoming pontiff also offers some insight into his approach. As Cardinal Robert Prevost, he played a key role in one of Pope Francis’ most notable reforms by allowing women to serve on the Vatican board that evaluates bishop nominations. However, he has also upheld the Church’s position that women cannot be ordained as priests.
Donald Hallstone, a 72-year-old Catholic living in Oregon, sees opportunity in Leo’s stance. “It’d be great to see women in those roles,” he said, referring to leadership positions within the Church. “Women were not excluded in the first centuries.”
At the same time, more conservative Catholics are hoping that Pope Leo will reinforce traditional doctrines, particularly on issues like same-sex marriage and abortion. Becude shares this view to an extent, stating her opposition to same-sex relationships based on her belief that unions should be between a man and a woman—an opinion she notes Pope Leo shares. However, she diverges from official Church teaching on reproductive rights.
“I don’t believe that they should stop women from having abortions,” Becude explained. “We should have our own rights because you don’t know the circumstances behind the reason why a woman would want the abortion in the first place.”
Although Pope Leo has been in office for only a short time, the early signs suggest that public opinion remains fluid, with much depending on how his papacy unfolds. A large segment of Americans, particularly those from other religious traditions, have not yet formed strong views. The poll shows that about half of born-again Protestants, mainline Protestants, and religiously unaffiliated adults haven’t developed an opinion. Still, unfavorable views remain minimal—roughly 1 in 10 in each of these groups.
Age also appears to influence public sentiment. Older Americans, who are statistically more likely to identify as Catholic, tend to view the pope more favorably. About half of Americans aged 60 and above have a positive impression of Pope Leo. In contrast, among adults under 30, only about 4 in 10 express a favorable view. However, even within this younger demographic, unfavorable opinions are rare—just around 1 in 10.
Mercedes Drink, a 31-year-old from the pope’s hometown of Chicago who now lives in Minnesota, identifies as part of the “religious nones”—those who consider themselves atheist, agnostic, or affiliated with no particular religion. Despite not being a practicing Catholic, Drink sees Pope Leo as a potential agent of change. “It’s cool; I like him because he brings something different,” she said.
“As a young woman, I hope that he can bring change … considering who he is, he brings something new to the table. I hope he opens the world’s eyes to modernizing the church, bringing more people in, having more diversity.”
Whether Pope Leo will fulfill these hopes remains to be seen, but for now, his unique background and early signals have sparked widespread interest and optimism across diverse segments of American society. From lifelong Catholics to curious outsiders, many are watching closely to see how this historic papacy will shape the future of the Catholic Church.