Despite the decline in church attendance, religious leaders – particularly Pope Francis – remain a source of fascination to the public. A new survey, specially commissioned by this paper, reveals that what matters today is less the teaching, and more the person and their achievements For religious leaders these are not easy times. The public is increasingly interested in you, but doesn’t necessarily embrace what you say. This is one of the findings of a new survey on religious leaders commissioned by The Tablet to mark its 175th anniversary. It sheds fresh light on Pope Francis’ popularity and the nature of the challenge he faces. The poll was completed last month by a representative sample of 3,211 adults aged 18 and over and living in Great Britain. It was admin