(Week of 2/16/2013) Pope Benedict XVI’s surprise resignation last week left many Americans – including many Catholics – unsure about what it means for the future of the Roman Catholic Church. In the latest Economist/YouGov Poll, one in three Catholics aren’t sure what the resignation means for the Church. And a similar percentage thinks it will both help and hurt the Church.
![](https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/images/popeeffectchart.format-webp.webp)
But those who see an impact, both Catholic and non-Catholic, are more likely to think it will help the Church than hurt it.
Catholics generally like Pope Benedict: 56% of Catholics have a favorable opinion of him, though one in five is unfavorable. Non-Catholics tend to be closely divided in their assessment of a Pope who had to confront multiple scandals involving sexual abuse of children by some priests and long-term cover-ups of that abuse.
![](https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/images/popefavchart.format-webp.webp)
Dislike of Pope Benedict is particularly high among those who are not especially religious. Nearly half of those who say religion is not at all important to them have a negative view of the outgoing Pope; Just 16% of the non-religious are favorable.
Overall opinion of Benedict is more positive today than it was two years ago. Then slightly more Americans viewed him unfavorably than favorably.
![](https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/images/popefavchartthenandnow.format-webp.webp)
Catholic favorability rose ten points – from 46% two years ago to 56% now.
One in five American Catholics would like to see Benedict replaced by an American. Another 11% hope the new Pontiff will come from Latin America. 9% hope he will came from Europe. But more than half of Catholics don’t have an opinion.
Economist/YouGov poll archives can be found here
Photo source: Press Association