Massive approval of Francis's pontificate and strong support for continuing his line

Pope Francis's pontificate has a 70% approval rating, creating unusual common ground between the Spanish right and left. More than half of Vox voters even approve of Jorge Bergoglio's management of the Catholic Church. Approval rates exceed 70% among voters of the alternative left and reach 75% among voters of the PP and PSOE. Only one in ten Spaniards disapprove of the previous Pope's performance.

Overall approval is highest among women and those over 65. However, it is lower among younger people, as well as among those with less education. It even falls below 60% among those with lower incomes. In this group, one in four respondents disapproves of the previous Pope's performance.

The positive image of Francis's pontificate extends beyond Catholics, whether practicing or not. More than 80% of them approve of his performance. Similarly, 61% of agnostics (those who neither affirm nor reject the existence of God) also approve of the former pope. Approval levels only fall below 50% among those who adhere to other religions, although just over half of atheists positively evaluate Bergoglio's administration.

Support for continuing Francis's line also remains high, albeit with more nuanced opinions. Sixty-nine percent believe Leo XIV should follow the same path as the previous pope, but one in five respondents would prefer him to take a different direction. Furthermore, while 80% of left-wing voters support continuity, that support stands at 65% among PP voters and falls below 50% among Vox voters.

Once again, it is striking that those most in favor of Leo XIV—a pontiff who places even greater emphasis on the Church's social doctrine—following a different line than Francis are those with lower incomes (one in four). At the same time, non-practicing Catholics are most in favor of continuity (76%), while agnostics and atheists register similar percentages to those expressed by practicing Catholics (around 65%).