A spring 2026 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 92% of Filipino adults identify as Christian, with 76% identifying as Catholic. The survey also indicated that 79% of Filipino Catholics hold a favorable view of Pope Leo XIV, including 43% who expressed a very favorable opinion.

Among Filipino Catholics, favorability for Pope Leo XIV varied by age group in the 2026 survey. Eighty-six percent of those aged 18 to 34 reported a favorable view, alongside 81% of those aged 35 to 49. In contrast, 67% of Filipino Catholics aged 50 and older expressed a favorable view of Pope Leo XIV. Additionally, 19% of Filipino Catholics aged 50 and older either reported never having heard of Pope Leo XIV or declined to answer, while 7% of those aged 18 to 34 gave the same response.

According to a 2024 survey, 12% of Filipino adults identify as Protestant. Most Filipino adults were raised Catholic and continue this identification into adulthood. The 2024 data also showed that 99% of Filipino adults believe in God, a figure that includes 99% of Catholics and 100% of Protestants.

The 2024 survey reported widespread daily prayer among Filipino adults, with 79% overall. This practice was observed in 77% of Filipino Catholics and 88% of Filipino Protestants. Regarding traditional beliefs, 56% of Filipino Catholics believe that ancestral spirits can provide help or cause harm, compared to 26% of Filipino Protestants. Furthermore, 76% of Filipino Catholics stated they light incense or candles for spiritual or religious reasons, while 27% of Protestants reported similar practices.

In discussions of national law, 82% of Filipino adults in the 2024 survey indicated that the Bible should have either a great deal or a fair amount of influence on the country's laws. Among those who believe the Bible should influence national laws, 63% of Filipino Protestants believe the Bible should take precedence over the will of the people if there is a conflict. For Filipino Catholics with similar views on the Bible's influence, 31% believe it should have more influence than the will of the people, while 49% believe the will of the people should prevail in such conflicts.

Why It Matters

The Philippines holds the world's third-largest Catholic population, following Brazil and Mexico, as noted in the Vatican's 2021 Statistical Yearbook of the Church. The Pew Research Center's 2026 findings provide an updated measure of religious identity and a contemporary understanding of perceptions towards Pope Leo XIV within this Catholic community. The 2024 survey results for the Philippines provide context regarding daily religious practices, traditional beliefs, and views on the role of religion in national governance, differentiating between Catholic and Protestant populations' approaches to belief and civic influence.