The survey by Quinnipiac University was conducted by interviewing 1,829 adults between Aug. 20-25 and found that 18 percent of those surveyed have a “very favorable” opinion of the pontiff while 48 percent have a “favorable” view of him.

On the other end of the spectrum, 10 percent say they have an “unfavorable” view of the pope and 4 percent say their opinion of Francis is “very unfavorable.”

The survey has an error margin of plus or minus 2.3 percent.

The pontiff “is sparking a resurgent confidence in the Catholic Church as more Catholics, Protestants and those with no religion believe the Vatican is steering The Church in the right direction,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the poll.

Forty-three percent of those surveyed said that the Catholic Church is moving in the “right direction,” compared with 21 percent who say the opposite.

Coming from a visit to Cuba, Francis will arrive in Washington on Sept. 22, where he will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama and will preside at the Mass to canonize Spanish Franciscan friar Junipero Serra, the founder of several missions in California and Mexico in the 18th century, among other activities.

The pontiff will travel to New York on Sept. 24 to officiate at a huge Mass in Madison Square Garden and address the UN General Assembly.

Francis will leave New York on Sept. 26 to wrap up his U.S. tour in Philadelphia, where he will participate in the closing ceremonies of the World Meeting of Families.

In a recent survey by the Public Religion Research Institute, 52 percent of Americans said they had not heard anything about the pope’s visit to this country, which was announced more than a year ago.