The Moral Authority of Three Popes Among High School Students: An Analysis of Worldview and Religious Determinants
Mirosław KALINOWSKI
John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin , Polandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4611-3380
Iwona NIEWIADOMSKA
John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin , Polandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0244-2748
Jarosław KOZAK
John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin , Polandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1048-8575
Abstract
The religiosity of the younger generation in Poland is undergoing a dynamic change which, in particular, influences the perception of popes as moral authorities in a broader social context. The aim of the study was to analyze the factors shaping Polish youth’s perception of the past three popes as moral authorities. Regression models were applied to data from a representative nationwide sample of secondary school students (n = 1029). Across all three models, the strongest predictor of moral authority was declared faith. John Paul II was most frequently recognized as an authority, with his position strongly rooted in traditional indicators of religiosity. Francis occupied an intermediate position, and his reception among respondents was associated with perceived openness to contemporary moral issues, such as in vitro fertilization. Benedict XVI was least often indicated as a moral authority, and his perception was shaped, among other factors, by his opposition to contraception, highlighting the importance of doctrinal conformity. The results suggest that for the younger generation, moral authority is not based solely on traditional indicators of religiosity but also on how a pope responds to their moral and social sensibilities and lived experiences. This points to changing mechanisms through which young people recognize moral authorities and underscores the need for further research on the relational and emotional dimensions of such perceptions.
Keywords:
Moral authority, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, secondary school youth, worldview attitudes, religiosityReferences
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John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4611-3380
