The numbers for the new pontiff represent virtually no change in perception among American faithful between Argentinean Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio's election to the papacy March 13 and now.
A similar poll conducted by the Pew Center in March found the pope receiving support of 84 percent of U.S. Catholics.
Thursday's numbers find the pope getting a "favorable" rating from 79 percent of the faithful.
The survey, conducted by the research center from Sept. 4-8, is based among a national sample of 1,506 adults.
Interviews were conducted by both cell and landline telephones and in English and Spanish.