report | May 6, 2008

Pope Benedict’s Image Improves Following U.S. Visit

Following his first visit to the United States as spiritual leader of the world’s Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI is viewed more favorably than he was a few weeks before his trip. Currently, 61% of Americans say they have a favorable impression of the pope, up from 52% in late March. The latest national survey by […]

transcript | Apr 4, 2008

Pope Benedict’s Papacy Still Coming Into Focus for Americans

As Pope Benedict XVI prepares to introduce himself to the U.S., a new Pew Forum survey shows that many Americans know very little about him. Pew Forum Director Luis Lugo and Associate Director Mark O’Keefe discuss the survey results in the context of previous findings and compare the favorability ratings of Pope Benedict XVI with […]

report | Apr 3, 2008

On Eve of Visit, Pope Benedict Still Unknown to Many Americans

Navigate this report: John Paul II Better Known, Better Liked Interfaith Relationships Partisans Differ in Views of the Pope About the Survey Two weeks before his first visit to the United States as spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI continues to be viewed favorably by a majority (52%) of Americans, which is […]

report | Nov 14, 2007

Pope Benedict XVI on the Church’s Role in Public Life

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has collected a variety of resources on Pope Benedict XVI’s views on public policy issues. The resources include links to his homilies and other writings on such issues as social justice, the participation of Catholics in political life, proposals to give legal recognition to same-sex unions, and […]

short reads | Nov 12, 2007

Rating Pope Benedict’s Performance

That's the percentage of the U.S. public that thinks that Pope Benedict XVI is doing an excellent or good job at promoting good relations with other major religions; this compares with 46% who say he is doing only a fair or poor job.

transcript | Oct 4, 2006

The Vatican and Islam: Pope Benedict XVI Prepares to Visit Turkey

Washington, D.C. Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to visit Turkey on Nov. 28-30, a trip that has already attracted exceptionally close attention because of the pope’s remarks about Islam during a September speech in Regensburg, Germany. More than 50 Islamic nations have demanded an apology for the speech, which aroused anger in the Islamic world […]

transcript | Apr 29, 2005

Pope Benedict XVI and World Affairs

Pew Research Center Washington, D.C. On April 19, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany became Benedict XVI, the 265th pontiff. Under the leadership of his predecessor, John Paul II, the Catholic Church gained remarkable global influence. From his role in the downfall of Communism to his ecumenical overtures to the Muslim world, John Paul II positioned […]

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