Aleja Hertzler-McCain

For NPR News, I'm Aleja Hertzler-McCain.

The largest Latin American countries are now only two-thirds Catholic.

In some, like Brazil, Catholic adults make up less than half the population.

This represents a significant decrease over the last 10 years.

That's largely because many Latin Americans are becoming religiously unaffiliated.

But being unaffiliated doesn't mean they don't believe in God or pray daily.

They actually report doing both at almost the same rate as European Christians.

Latin American Pentecostals have been an important demographic politically.

Their support has been linked to conservative success, but Pew's data shows that now a smaller share of Latin American Protestants are Pentecostal as compared to a decade ago.

For NPR News, I'm Aleja Hertzler-McCain.

Conservatives are revisiting Francis' policies that they disagreed with. Those include his suppression of certain Latin masses, allowing the blessing of same-sex couples, and his advocacy for the environment and thawing of relations with China.

Conservatives are revisiting Francis' policies that they disagreed with. Those include his suppression of certain Latin masses, allowing the blessing of same-sex couples, and his advocacy for the environment and thawing of relations with China.

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan told the Today Show he's looking for the next pope to have a blend of the heart of Francis, but also some qualities he liked in Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan told the Today Show he's looking for the next pope to have a blend of the heart of Francis, but also some qualities he liked in Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

According to a poll taken in February, most Republican-leaning Catholics in the U.S. supported Pope Francis, and Vatican watchers warn against trying to reduce any pope into U.S. political terms. Aleja Hertzler-McCain, NPR News.

According to a poll taken in February, most Republican-leaning Catholics in the U.S. supported Pope Francis, and Vatican watchers warn against trying to reduce any pope into U.S. political terms. Aleja Hertzler-McCain, NPR News.