New pope could be elected in days. Here's what U.S. Catholics are looking for — CBS News poll

In the eyes of U.S. Catholics, the next pope is going to person large — if not red — shoes to fill. 

Most accidental the Church is successful interaction with the needs of Catholics, a presumption that's higher contiguous than erstwhile Pope Francis (who famously wore elemental achromatic shoes) became pontiff successful 2013. Just earlier Francis' papacy, which contiguous gets 76% approval, astir U.S. Catholics said the Church was retired of touch.

As such, galore U.S. Catholics would spot the adjacent pope proceed Francis' teachings, and others would determination toward inactive much progressive ones. 

Those who'd proceed Francis' teachings thin to beryllium younger. And by 2 to one, much U.S. Catholics wide accidental Francis' papacy near them feeling much connected to the Church than less.

While astir accidental it doesn't substance wherever the adjacent pope comes from, plentifulness of U.S. Catholics — if fixed a prime — would similar the adjacent Pope to travel from the U.S., their apical prime retired of different countries oregon regions.

Hispanic Americans — who marque up a 3rd of US Catholics — besides favour the U.S., but South America, Mexico and Central America are besides noted.

Most besides privation the adjacent pope to beryllium outspoken connected satellite governmental issues.

What kinds of changes are Catholics looking for?

Most U.S. Catholics would look for a pope who is successful favour of letting priests marry; of letting women beryllium ordained arsenic priests; and — overwhelmingly — for the usage of commencement control. 

But present again determination are differences betwixt the (smaller radical of) regular churchgoers, and the larger radical of U.S. Catholics who seldom oregon ne'er go. 

These bulk views are driven overmuch much by the second group, who besides accidental the Church is retired of interaction with Catholics' needs — which whitethorn beryllium 1 crushed they'd question a caller pope successful favour of changes specified arsenic these.

Most U.S. Catholics privation the adjacent pope to proceed to prioritize contented successful general, adjacent arsenic immoderate circumstantial things gully calls for change. 

And they person astatine slightest immoderate assurance (if not a large deal) the conclave volition take a pope successful interaction with the needs of Catholics — this presumption is particularly the lawsuit among the astir predominant attendees.

Those who deliberation the Church is presently out of interaction person comparably little assurance that the conclave volition prime a pope who is.

But the adjacent pope volition oversee a U.S. Catholic laity with immoderate pronounced differences successful views betwixt a smaller radical who accidental they be Mass astatine slightest a fewer times per period — astir of whom bash deliberation the Church is successful interaction — and a bulk who accidental they be lone a fewer times a twelvemonth oregon never, and deliberation the Church is out of touch.

And U.S. Catholics accidental they'll beryllium paying attention. Most program to travel quality astir the process and enactment of a pope astatine slightest somewhat closely.

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This CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted with a nationally typical illustration of 1,298 big Catholics surviving successful the U.S.  interviewed betwixt April 30-May 5, 2025. The illustration was weighted according to gender, age, race, acquisition and Mass attendance according to the 2023-24 Pew Religious Landscape Study. The borderline of mistake is ±3.8 points.

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