A new survey conducted by the Knights of Columbus shows that both
Catholic and non-Catholic U.S. residents overwhelmingly admire Pope John
Paul II and believe that his upcoming May 1 beatification is a fitting
recognition of his life and work.
“It is not surprising that the American people – to whom Pope John
Paul II reached out so directly so many times – think it fitting that he
is declared ‘blessed,’” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, head of the
Catholic fraternal and charitable organization.
The Knights' survey, a collaboration with the Marist Institute for
Public Opinion, questioned 1,274 adults and differentiated between
non-Catholics and practicing Catholics.
The poll showed that 78 percent of Americans, and 98 percent of
Catholics, have at least some admiration for Pope John Paul.
Majorities
of each demographic – 55 percent of all Americans, and 82 percent of all
Catholics – said they had a “great deal” or “good amount” of admiration
for his achievements as Pope.
Nearly 6 in 10 Americans, and more than 80 percent of Catholics, said
they considered Pope John Paul to have been among the best Popes in
the history of the Church.
Three-quarters of Americans agreed that he deserved the Church's
honor of beatification, the last step before sainthood, a view shared by
90 percent of all Catholics and 94 percent of those who currently
practice their faith.
More than 40 percent of all Americans, and 87 percent of Catholics,
said that the soon-to-be-beatified Pope had some impact on their
spiritual lives. Nearly two-thirds of all Americans remember his various
trips to the United States, and 46 percent of them watched the
broadcast of his funeral in 2005.
“Pope John Paul II was a truly historic pope,” said Anderson, who
worked closely with the late Pope during his lifetime and helped
establish the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage
and Family in Washington, D.C.
“He visited more than a dozen American
cities during the course of his pontificate, and clearly left a
meaningful mark on the minds and spirituality of the American people.”
The late Pope, currently known as “Venerable John Paul II,” will be
beatified on May 1.
A delegation from the Knights of Columbus, including
Supreme Knight Anderson, will travel to Rome for the ceremony, carrying
a collection of letters written by young admirers to Pope John Paul’s
tomb.