7 in 10 Filipinos have ‘much trust’ in Pope Francis – SWS

Katerina Francisco

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7 in 10 Filipinos have ‘much trust’ in Pope Francis – SWS

AFP

The Argentine pontiff's net trust rating among respondents from other religions also rose, SWS says

MANILA, Philippines – Even with less than half of Catholics going to Church regularly, Pope Francis continues to be highly regarded by Filipinos, with the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that 7 in 10 Filipinos or 72% have “much trust” in the Argentine pontiff.

Pope Francis earned a net trust rating of +59, or “very good,” said SWS, citing results from its 4th quarter survey results released on Tuesday, January 13, just two days before the pontiff visits the Philippines for the first time.

Meanwhile, 12% of Filipinos say they have “little trust” in the Catholic leader.

The 4th quarter results were similar to the very good +59 net trust rating (71% much trust, 12% little trust) that the pontiff obtained in September 2013.

The survey results also showed that Francis’ net trust rating among respondents from other religions also rose.

Trusted by other religions

Pope Francis’ net trust rating rose among people from other religions, compared to figures from September 2013.

His trust rating among Catholics rose 2 points from +66 in September 2013 to +68 in December 2014, for a “very good” rating.

From a “moderate” +23 in September 2013, the Pope’s net trust rating among Iglesia ni Cristo members went up by 10 points to a “good” +33.

Similarly, the pontiff earned a “good” +40 rating among other Christians, up 8 points from +32.

Muslims are neutral about the Pope, giving him a -8 rating, up by 2 points from a -10 rating (poor) in September 2013.

Church attendance up

The SWS survey also showed that less than half of Filipinos – 48% – attend religious services every week.

The figure, however, was the highest since 57% in May 2012. It is also 2 points above the 46% annual average of 2014.

The latest survey found that weekly attendance in religious services was at 89% among Iglesia ni Cristo members, 83% among Muslims, 72% among other Christians, and 41% among Catholics. 

Catholic popes have consistently received very good to excellent net trust ratings from Filipinos, since SWS first surveyed it in December 1994.

Among previous popes, Pope John Paul II has garnered the highest public trust. He received a very good +65 rating in 1994, before reaching an all-time high rating of +72 (excellent) in April 1995.

His net rating dropped to a “very good” +58 in December 2003 and +62 in March 2005.

Francis’ predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, received a “very good” +58 rating in May 2005.

The December 2014 SWS survey was conducted between November 27 to December 1, 2014 among 1,800 respondents. It has a ±2% margin of error for national percentages, ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, and Mindanao; and ±3% for Visayas. Rappler.com

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