HIGH SCHOOL POPULARITY CONTEST

Pope Leo tops Trump and Zelenskyy in Gallup world leader poll

Vatican

Vatican News

Pope Leo XIV smiles as the wind lifts his mozzetta and fascia at the end of the Jubilee of Youth in Rome’s Tor Vergata neighborhood Aug. 3. A new Gallup poll found a 57% approval rating for the pontiff, higher than that of U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine President 

Except for Pope Leo, Zelenskyy and Sanders, all the remaining leaders on the Gallup list had negative net favorability, with French President Emmanuel Macron at -1% and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk at -28%.

Trump (-16%), Secretary of State Marco Rubio (-16%), former President Joe Biden (-11%) and current Vice President JD Vance (-11%) fell between Macron and Musk in the net negative rankings.

Gallup also compared Pope Leo's rating with those of Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI. It noted the new pope's numbers "closely match" those of his predecessors in the early days of their respective pontificates. In 2013, Gallup found that 58% approved and 10% disapproved of Pope Francis, while in 2005 Pope Benedict was viewed favorably by 55% and unfavorably by 12%.

The polling firm clarified that it did not measure U.S. public opinion of Pope St. John Paul II as favorable or unfavorable until 1993, well after his 1978 election. However, the late pope enjoyed wide popularity among U.S. residents, with anywhere from 61% to 86% approving in a given poll over the years.

Among U.S. Catholics, Pope Leo (76%), Pope Francis (80%) and Pope Benedict (67%) "earned higher-than-average support in their initial ratings," said Gallup.

The firm also noted that Pope Leo differs from predecessors in that his approval rating is "higher among liberals than conservatives (65% vs. 46%)."

In contrast, conservatives were more likely to view Pope Benedict and Pope Francis favorably during the early days of their pontificates.

Pope Benedict maintained that conservative approval edge through Gallup's 2010 data, taken three years ahead of his 2013 resignation. Pope Francis' ranking among conservatives declined, with his December 2023 Gallup numbers showing a 70% approval among liberals and 42% among conservatives.