Pope Leo XIV has emerged as a unifying figure, leading a new Gallup poll of world leaders with a 57% favorability rating among U.S. adults.
Newsroom (11/08/2025 Gaudium Press ) In a politically polarized United States, Pope Leo XIV has emerged as a unifying figure, leading a new Gallup poll of world leaders with a 57% favorability rating among U.S. adults. The poll, conducted by telephone from July 7-21, 2025, with 1,002 respondents nationwide, marks the first measurement of public opinion toward the U.S.-born pope since his election on May 8, 2025. With only 11% disapproving and 31% expressing no opinion, Pope Leo’s appeal spans party lines, a rarity in today’s divisive political climate.
Broad Appeal Across Political Divides
Unlike the political figures included in the poll, Pope Leo enjoys favorable views across ideological lines, though Democrats (65%) rate him higher than Republicans (46%). This ideological split aligns with Gallup’s observation that the pope’s approval is “higher among liberals than conservatives,” a contrast to his predecessors, Popes Francis and Benedict XVI, who initially garnered stronger support among conservatives.
Gallup noted that 18% of respondents were not familiar enough with Pope Leo to form an opinion, while 13% had not heard of him, reflecting his relatively recent ascent to the papacy. As he approaches his first 100 days on August 16, 2025, the pontiff’s early popularity signals a promising start.
Comparison to Other Leaders
The poll also evaluated other prominent figures, with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earning a 52% approval rating (34% disapproval, 14% no opinion) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at 49% favorable (38% unfavorable, 14% no opinion). In contrast, U.S. President Donald Trump faced significant disapproval, with 57% viewing him negatively, 41% positively, and just 2% undecided. Vice President JD Vance fared slightly better, with 49% disapproval, 38% approval, and 13% no opinion.
Pope Leo led the rankings in net favorability—calculated as the difference between positive and negative ratings—at 46%. Zelenskyy followed at 18%, and Sanders at 11%. All other leaders polled, including French President Emmanuel Macron (-1%), former President Joe Biden (-11%), Secretary of State Marco Rubio (-16%), Trump (-16%), and billionaire Elon Musk (-28%), recorded negative net favorability.
Historical Context: Papal Popularity
Gallup compared Pope Leo’s ratings to those of his predecessors. In 2013, Pope Francis had a 58% approval rating with 10% disapproval, while Pope Benedict XVI, in 2005, was viewed favorably by 55% and unfavorably by 12%. Both pontiffs’ early ratings closely mirror Pope Leo’s current standing. Among U.S. Catholics, Pope Leo’s 76% approval rating is strong, though slightly below Pope Francis’ 80% and above Pope Benedict’s 67% in their initial Gallup polls.
Unlike his predecessors, whose early support skewed conservative, Pope Leo’s higher approval among liberals marks a shift. Gallup noted that Pope Francis’ conservative support waned over time, with his December 2023 poll showing 70% approval among liberals and 42% among conservatives. Pope Benedict maintained a conservative edge through 2010, three years before his 2013 resignation.
A Unifying Figure in a Divided Nation
Pope Leo’s ability to bridge partisan divides, even modestly, underscores his unique position in a fractured political landscape. As Gallup highlighted, his net favorability metric accounts for varying levels of public familiarity, making it a robust measure for comparison. With his first 100 days approaching, the U.S.-born pope’s early popularity suggests a pontificate poised to resonate widely, particularly among Catholics and liberals, while maintaining broader appeal than most political leaders.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCAN News
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