Pope Benedict's last day

February 28, 2013, 11:28 AM GMT+0

A majority of people in several European countries say Benedict XVI was not influential.

Most people think that Pope Benedict XVI and leading Catholic bishops have not been influential in their societies, according to YouGov’s latest EuroTrack survey, which tracks public opinion in Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

Benedict XVI, who announced his resignation because of “lack of strength” on 11 February, will officially cease to be the head of the Roman Catholic Church tonight at 8pm.

Asked how much notice they think leading politicians have paid to the views of Pope Benedict and Catholic bishops in their respective countries, and a majority of people in every country surveyed say either “not much” or “none at all”.

In Britain, 71% say Pope Benedict has not been influential, while only 9% say he was and 21% are undecided. Amongst British Roman Catholics, 78% say politicians have not paid attention to the views of Pope Benedict, while 17% say they have and 4% aren’t sure. In predominantly Roman Catholic France, 61% of people believe the Pope has not been influential compared to 18% who believe he has been, and 21% who are undecided.

Also, a majority of people in every country except for Germany say leading politicians in their respective countries were right to not pay much notice to the Pope’s views. In Germany the public is divided with 43% believing the Pope should have been listened to, 40% saying he should have been ignored and 16% undecided.

In most of the countries surveyed by YouGov people tend to have a more positive than negative view of Benedict’s performance during his eight years as Pope. However, questioned on specific issues, ranging from allowing women priests to homosexuality and birth control, and either a majority or plurality of people tend to agree that Pope Benedict has been “too conservative and changed things too little”.

Church attendance

Only a small proportion of people in every country surveyed say they attend church once a week or more. In Britain, 30% of people say they never attend church services.

Amongst British Roman Catholics, 23% say they never go to church, 13% go less than once a year, 6% go at least once a year, 21% say they go at least twice a year, 11% attend church at least twice a month, 6% go least once every two weeks and 19% of Roman Catholics in Britain say they attend church services once a week or more.

Benedict right to resign

Strong majorities of people in every country surveyed say the Pope was right to resign. Support for the Pope resigning was highest in Germany, at 82%, and lowest in Britain, at 68%, although only 8% of Brits say Benedict was wrong to resign and a quarter (25%) are undecided.

For more information contact YouGov PR Executive Harris MacLeod

See the full results here

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