72% Filipinos trust Pope Francis says SWS

Pope Francis (Wikipedia Photo)

MANILA – A recent survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that seven out of 10 Filipinos have “much trust” in Pope Francis.

The results, which were released on Wednesday, also showed that the trust ratings of the Pope increased among other major religions in the country.

According to SWS, 72 percent of their respondents said that they have “much trust” in Pope Francis, while 12 percent had “little trust,” resulting to a “very good” 59 net satisfactory rating.

The results were similar to the survey conducted last September 2013, six months after then Archbishop Jose Mario Cardinal Bergoglio of Buenos Aires was selected at the Vicar of Christ. Back then, 71 percent of Filipinos trusted him, and 12 percent had little trust.

Meanwhile, trust in the Pontiff was a “very good” 68 among Catholics, “good” 33 for Iglesia ni Cristo supporters, “neutral” negative 8 for the Muslims, and “good” 40 for the Christians.

“The Catholic Pope has always been highly regarded by Filipinos,” noted SWS, adding that St. John Paul II and Pope Francis generated the highest public trust in the history of their surveys.

Aside from this, survey also showed that there was an increase in number of Catholics attending weekly religious service at 41 percent from 39 percent last quarter.

The survey was participated in by 1,800 adults nationwide and had a plus-or-minus 2 percent points margin of error for national percentages.