Americans are feeling quite positive regarding the Roman Catholic Church after Pope Francis' 10-day visit in the United States, the most recent Pew Research Center survey has revealed.
They called it the "Benedict bounce", when Pope Benedict's visit to the UK prompted an upsurge of goodwill towards the Catholic Church. Now in the United States new research shows a similar result of the Pope's recent visit there. The "Francis factor" has struck again.
Conservative bishops have taken the lead at the Pope's Synod on the Family in Rome, drawing a firm line against any attempts to soften rules that exclude divorced and remarried Catholics from communion and ban all artificial contraception.
It has been a week since Pope Francis ended his 10-day visit to the United States and Cuba, but the Roman Catholic pontiff left such a positive impact on Americans, including its President Barack Obama that the ripple effect of his visit is still being felt today.
Pope Francis on Sunday reaffirmed Catholic opposition to gay marriage as he opened a three-week gathering of bishops from around the world but said the Church had to show love and understanding towards all.