Canadians Reflect on Pope Benedict's Job Performance and Decision to Resign
The vast majority (84%) of Canadians `agree' (38% strongly/46% somewhat) that they `support Pope Benedict's decision to resign as Pope to make way for a new Pope', while just 16% `disagreed' (8% strongly/9% somewhat). Catholics were even more supportive (91%) of the decision, while fewer didn't support it (9%).
Interestingly, a majority of Canadians (58%), and most Catholics (73%), believe that `the office of the Pope is a force for good in the world. Four in ten (42%) Canadians, overall, and three in ten (27%) Catholics, though, disagree.
Among all Canadians, the Pope polls ahead of the Church, as just 55% of Canadians, overall, believe the Catholic Church is a force for good in the world, while 45% disagree. Catholics, though, are more likely to believe that the Church is a force for good, with 75% believing this is the case and 25% disagreeing.
Furthermore, just three in ten (28%) Catholics `agree' (6% strongly/22% somewhat) that `the Pope is relevant' to them in their daily lives, while most (72%) `disagree' (28% strongly/43% somewhat). Among Catholics who attend Church on a weekly basis, though, the inverse is true: six in ten (60%) believe the Pope is relevant to them in their daily lives, while four in ten (40%) say he isn't.
These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between March 11 and 13, 2013, on behalf Postmedia News and Global Television. For this survey, a sample of 1,412 Canadians (including 396 Roman Catholics) from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data (including religion) and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/- 3 percentage points had all Canadians been surveyed, and +/- 5.6 percentage points for the sub-sample of Roman Catholics. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice President
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
416.324.2002
[email protected]
About Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.
To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.
About Ipsos
Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. In October 2011 Ipsos completed the acquisition of Synovate. The combination forms the world's third largest market research company.
With offices in 85 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research, and survey management.
Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.
Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of e1,789 billion (2.300 billion USD) in 2012.
