Pope Francis, whose papal name was taken from beloved Francis of Assisi (patron saint of the animals), is riding a wave of popularity barely a year after his ascension to the Throne of Saint Peter.

Thomas Boffa of Attleboro praised Francis for making the Catholic Church seem more welcoming.

"He's a breath of fresh air," Boffa said outside LaSalette Shrine on Park Street in Attleboro. "It was looking pretty bleak there for a while, but Pope Francis is making some

good changes and making the church more open and inviting."

Boffa said he appreciated how the pope is "down to earth."

In the eyes of many American Catholics, Francis is reforming a moribund institution battered by priest sex abuse scandals and perceived corruption.

And he is doing it while eschewing the traditional pageantry of his office and placing greater emphasis on the poor.

A Pew Research poll in February found 85 percent of U.S. Catholics have a favorable view of Francis, including half who view him "very favorably."

Indeed, the pontiff has gained a reputation for being a people person, frequently greeting crowds gathered in Saint Peter's Square, hopping down from the popemobile at times for photos with young members of the church.

Riverside, R.I., resident Scott Owen said reaching out to the public, especially the poor, is what makes Pope Francis relatable.

"It shows that he puts his shoes on one foot at a time, like we all do," Owen said. "He's a human being, and a sinner just like the rest of us."

Dan Keough of East Greenwich, R.I., said he liked how Francis' relationship with the public is "a nice change."

"Some popes in the past have chosen to be more secluded and stay behind closed doors, but Pope Francis is out and interacting with the people," Keough said. "I think that will bring more people back to the church."

For Mary Puricelli, it's the pontiff's humble demeanor that she likes the most.

"He's not stuck in the old traditions of the church," the Easton resident said. "He's not stuck on ornate, material possessions."

When Francis took over as pope after his predecessor Benedict XVI stepped down, he opted to wear a simple robe, rather than the velvet and gold papal vestments to greet the world for the first time.

He travels around in a Ford Focus - a far cry from the luxury custom cars of past pontiffs.

Francis also chooses not to live in the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace, and instead resides in smaller accommodations in Vatican City.

While he is reshaping the image of the church, Francis has changed the tone, rather than text of church doctrine.

And, it hasn't been enough for some.

Members of the U.S.-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, criticized the pope and the Vatican for doing too little to punish priests who have sexually abused children.

In a speech earlier this month, Francis condemned the sexual abuse by Catholic clergy and said perpetrators will be punished. But, Barbara Dorris, SNAP's outreach director, said the promise was "all talk."

At the other end of the spectrum, many conservative Catholics want to see Francis take a harder line on core doctrinal beliefs, and worry that his off-the-cuff words regarding homosexuality, contraception and abortion will be misinterpreted as reforms to church teachings.

Raymond DuMont of Lincoln, R.I., touched on that when referring to a comment Francis made to a gathering of journalist, saying, "Who am I to judge?" when asked about his position on gays.

"I don't agree with what the pope said regarding gay marriage," DuMont said. "Marriage was meant to be between a man and a woman, and I think he should've been more clear about that."

Still, overall, DuMont said he thinks Francis "is doing a great job."

At the end of Francis first year as pope, it's clear sweeping reform of the church is a long way off.

But, many American Catholics agree that at least Francis is taking steps in the right direction.