Gina Christian, OSV
Pope Leo XIV tops a new Gallup poll of world leaders among U.S. residents.
The survey, conducted by telephone July 7-21 with 1,002 adults nationwide, found that 57% of respondents viewed Leo XIV favorably, 11% disapproved of him and 31% had no opinion. Of that last group, 18% said they were not familiar enough with the pope to have an opinion, while the remaining 13% had not heard of him.
At the same time, Gallup noted that, "consistent with the ideological differences in their ratings, Democrats like him more than Republicans." The Gallup poll evaluated the U.S.-born pope for the first time since his election on May 8. Pope Leo XIV completes his first 100 days in the papacy on August 16.
Results of other leaders
Respondents gave Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a 52% approval rating, with 34% disapproving and 14% no opinion. Following him was Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont independent), with 49% positive and 38% negative, while 14% expressed no opinion.
A majority of Americans surveyed (57%) disapproved of U.S. President Donald Trump, with 41% approving and just 2% no opinion. Vice President J.D. Vance scored 49% disapproving, with 38% favorable and 13% no opinion.
Lion XIV also topped the rankings based on net favorability (representing the difference between positive and negative percentage points) with a 46%.
Gallup noted that "net favorability is more effective for these comparisons because it accounts for the large differences in Americans' familiarity with the various figures."
With the exception of Pope Leo XIV, Zelenski and Sanders, all other leaders on Gallup's list had a net negative favorability: French President Emmanuel Macron had a -1% and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk a -28%.
Trump (-16%), Secretary of State Marco Rubio (-16%), former President Joe Biden (-11%) and current Vice President JD Vance (-11%) were sandwiched between Macron and Musk in the net negative ranking.
Comparison with other Popes
Gallup also compared Leo XIV's rating with those of Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI. It noted that the new pope's numbers are very similar to those of his predecessors in the early days of their respective pontificates. In 2013, Gallup found that 58% approved of Pope Francis and 10% disapproved, while in 2005 Pope Benedict XVI had a 55% favorable and 12% unfavorable opinion.
The pollster clarified that it did not measure U.S. public opinion of Pope St. John Paul II as favorable or unfavorable until 1993, long after his election in 1978. However, the late Pope enjoyed widespread popularity among U.S. residents, with between 61% and 86% approval ratings in a given poll over the years.
Among U.S. Catholics, Pope Leo XIV (76%), Pope Francis (80%) and Pope Benedict XVI (67%) "garnered above-average support in their initial ratings," Gallup said .
The firm also noted that the Pope Leo XIV differs from his predecessors in that his approval rating is "higher among liberals than among conservatives (65% vs. 46%)."
By contrast, conservatives were more likely to view Benedict XVI and Pope Francis favorably during the early days of their pontificates.
Pope Benedict XVI maintained that conservative approval advantage through 2010 Gallup data taken three years before his resignation in 2013. Pope Francis' rating among conservatives declined, with his December 2023 Gallup numbers showing 70% approval among liberals and 42% among conservatives.
