Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) and Pope Benedict XVI pose for photos during their meeting in the pontiff's private library at the Vatican on April 24, 2007. (UPI Photo/Omar Rashidi/Palestinian President's Office)

The Washington Post-ABC News poll showed 74 percent of respondents said they have favorable views of their spiritual leader, who took over leadership of the world's Catholics three years ago.

Not so clear-cut, however, is how U.S. Catholics want Benedict to proceed in maneuvering the church through modern times. The poll indicates 50 percent want the pope to emphasize traditional Catholic teachings and customs, while 45 percent want him to align the church more closely with modern attitudes and lifestyles.

That even split is almost unchanged from three years ago when Benedict was elected as pope, but a big shift from October 2003, when nearly two-thirds preferred a path of modernization.

Among Americans in general, 48 percent view the pope favorably, about half that percentage have a negative view and nearly 30 percent said they had no opinion.

The poll of 1,197 adults, conducted April 10-13, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.