Papal Audience - An 88 Percent Increase After a Decade of Decline under Francis
Attendance at papal events increased by 88 percent in 2025, rising to 3.17 million participants, after more than a decade of sustained decline during the pontificate of Pope Francis.
At the beginning of Francis’ pontificate, attendance exceeded 7.3 million, one of the highest levels ever recorded.
From that point onward, participation declined almost uninterruptedly.
By 2024, attendance had fallen to 1,682,100, less than a quarter of the levels seen in 2013.
The loss of engagement unfolded gradually but consistently, with no year reversing the trend in a meaningful way.
During the final months of Francis’ pontificate in early 2025, only 262,820 people attended papal events.
His last general audience took place on 12 February, shortly before his hospitalization and death.
By that stage, public participation had reached historically low levels.
The election of Leo XIV in May produced an immediate numerical increase. From May to December, 2.9 million people attended papal events, with …More
More "Leo effect" spin from the Vatican - but popularity doesn't mean anything. The issue is whether Leo is continuing Francis' "reforms" & policies or if he's defending the authentic Catholic faith.
An unfortunate indication that many - perhaps most - of those in the pews of Novus Ordo churches who think they're Catholic - no longer are.
We cannot forget that the Vatican also pushed the covid-19 experimental shot on the faithful as a "moral obligation."
Time will if Prevost's trajectory mirrors his 'boss'. His 'honeymoon' is just about over and many are already on to him. We are (once again) increasingly becoming a Church of 'desert adherents'.
The “appointment of anti-Catholic Bishops” wasn’t the only reason nor the most significant reason for Francis’ decline in popularity leading to a decline in attendance at Papal events, although it was certainly one of the factors. There are several others which must be taken into consideration.