A new national survey has revealed that Pope Leo XIV is the most highly esteemed public figure among American voters, highlighting the enduring moral influence of the papacy in contemporary society.
According to a March survey conducted by NBC News, U.S. voters expressed the strongest positive sentiment toward the pontiff when compared with several prominent political and public personalities. The poll, carried out by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies, surveyed 1,000 registered voters across the United States to gauge opinions about leading public figures and major national issues.
The findings show that 42% of respondents described their view of Pope Leo XIV as “very positive” or “somewhat positive,” giving the Holy Father a net favorability advantage of 34 percentage points, placing the pope ahead of several well-known American figures.
Among those ranked behind the pontiff were personalities from politics and media, including comedian Stephen Colbert, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, President Donald Trump, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
NBC also highlighted past ratings of recent pontiffs: Pope Francis at 57 percent, Pope Benedict XVI at 30 percent, and Pope John Paul II at 65 percent. The poll underscores how the papacy continues to command respect beyond political divisions, with Pope Leo XIV’s message of faith, unity, and moral leadership resonating strongly among the American public.