Francis ‘more effective’ than Benedict, poll finds

Almost nine out of 10 practising Catholics consider Francis a more effective Pope than his predecessor, Benedict XVI, according to a global survey conducted by The Tablet, writes Abigail Frymann.

In addition, more than a quarter say Benedict XVI should have left the Vatican altogether when he resigned last February.

These figures were also true for Catholics who attend Mass just a few times a year. Among non-Catholics, some 95 per cent favoured Pope Francis over Benedict.

More than 1,400 people completed an online poll on The Tablet’s website between 19 February and 4 March. Every continent was represented, with one third of respondents from the UK and one third from the US. Of the 1,208 respondents who attend Mass at least once a week, 72 per cent said Francis had made them feel prouder of their faith and almost as many said he had improved non-Catholic friends’ view of their faith. 

Some 299 Catholic clergy and Religious took part in the survey. Some 86 per cent of these said Francis was a more effective Pope than Benedict, and 30 per cent of these said Benedict should have left the Vatican when he stood down. Three-fifths of clergy and Religious said Francis had renewed their faith and almost four-fifths said Francis had made them feel prouder of their faith.

Next week: where has Francis done well; what should he focus on next? Full results will be published at www.thetablet.co.uk