Betting On Francis

Guardian UK: US progressives hope Pope Francis can bring moral force to key issues - Campaigners believe the pontiff’s visit can lift their work on climate change, income inequality, immigration and mass incarceration above partisan swamp

...a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll that shows that while 86% of Catholics predictably view him favourably, so do 70% of all Americans and 65% of non-Catholics. Though some conservative critics have attempted to distance themselves from the pope’s visit – one Arizona Republican congressman, Paul Gosar, says he is boycotting the trip – they are out of step with the majority of US opinion, the poll suggests.