[ansel12]

Irrelevant to this thread, I don’t think this thread is about the last few months, or the last year.

[Robert DeLong]

While the Pope is certainly not the only reason, I think he is indeed a factor of defection from the religion. The fact that the conclave elected him also helped to enlighten members that moral decay within the church exists within the highest ranks of the church. Obviously the sex scandals over the years was the starting point of members to begin questioning the church, and their support for the church.

From the article:
Pew also highlighted that although Pope Francis has drawn much attention since his appointment in March 2013, only in his home country of Argentina, as well as in Uruguay, do the majority of ex-Catholics express a favorable view of the pope. In the other Latin American countries, only roughly half of ex-Catholics have a favorable view of the pontiff.

Of course this Pope is not the singular reason of the negative affects the Catholic religion is experiencing. However, I think he is the straw that is causing the camel's back to start to break more and more. Thus you may find it irrelevant, but I think it is.