Pope Francis delivers the Sunday Angelus prayer overlooking St. Peter’ Square at the Vatican, on Oct. 29, 2023. ROY LAGARDE
Pope Francis enjoys the support of 71% of Filipinos, according to a survey by Oculum Research and Analytics.
The pontiff was among the most trusted individuals in the poll of 3,000 respondents aged 18 and above and randomly selected nationwide (see table below).
“As a prominent religious figure, Pope Francis enjoys a high level of trust, likely due to his global reputation for humility, compassion, and progressive views on various social issues,” said Dr. Joseph Mercado, Oculum Chief Statistician.
The same poll found the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, along with the Academe, as the most trusted institutions in the country.
“The strong trust shown suggests a high level of respect and confidence in this religious institution, reflecting its influence and credibility in a predominantly Catholic country. This might also indicate the value placed on religious guidance and moral leadership,” Mercado said.
Mercado said the Academe enjoyed an “exceptionally high level of public trust in academic institutions.”
“The minimal distrust suggests a strong belief in the academe’s integrity, reliability, and contribution to society. This could be attributed to the perception of educational institutions as sources of unbiased information and knowledge,” he said.
The survey also canvassed respondents’ views on issues of concern to Catholic leaders or groups:
- Climate Change Action: With 78% in support and only 3% in opposition, there is a clear consensus on the importance of addressing climate change. This reflects a growing awareness and concern about environmental issues.
- Divorce: The public is more divided on this issue, with 24% in support but 45% opposed. This suggests that traditional or cultural values might influence public opinion.
- Mining: A notable opposition (59%) against mining (14% in favor) reflects environmental and perhaps socioeconomic concerns related to the mining industry.
- Same-Sex Marriage: More opposition (51%) than support (16%) suggests conservative societal attitudes prevail on this issue.
- Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Bill: This reflects a division with 26% in support and 31% opposed, showing a societal split over issues related to gender identity and expression.
The 2024 first-quarter national survey was conducted from February 21 to 29, 2024 by Oculum Research and Analytics in partnership with APCoRE, a professional organization of academics and researchers, and Areopagus Communications Inc.
A total of 3,000 respondents, aged 18 years old and above, were interviewed face-to-face. The respondents were distributed as follows: 335 from the National Capital Region, 645 from Northern and Central Luzon, 690 from Southern Luzon, 615 from the Visayas and 715 Mindanao, ensuring representation. With a margin of error of ± 2 percentage points and a high confidence level of 97%, Oculum’s survey presents a reliable and in-depth perspective of the current state of public opinion in the Philippines. OCULUM RESEARCH & ANALYTICS