Pope Leo XIV owns the highest favorability rating among 14 world newsmakers, recording a +46 net-favorable score, according to a new Gallup poll released Tuesday.
Pope Leo’s 57% favorable rating against an 11% unfavorable made him the No. 1 newsmaker on the list, far ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (+18 net favorable) and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. (+11), according to Gallup. The three registered the only positive net-favorable marks on the list.
Pope Leo’s +46 net favorable is on par with the first Gallup rating of the past two popes, Francis in 2013 (+48 net favorable) and Benedict in 2005 (+43). Pope Leo breaks from his predecessors in that he scored better with liberals vs. conservatives (65% vs. 46%), whereas Popes Francis and Benedict scored better with conservatives than liberals in their inaugural rating, according to Gallup.
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