ROME – A majority of Italians prefer the next pope to follow in the footsteps of the late Pope Francis, according to a new survey released Friday.

The poll, conducted by the political and economic analysis firm Izi, found that more than 74 percent of respondents support a pontiff who would continue Francis’s legacy, described as “progressive” by 77 percent of those surveyed.

Presented during the program L’Aria che Tira on La7, the survey revealed that while a preference for an Italian pope remains, 60 percent of respondents said the nationality of the new pontiff is not important.

The issues Italians most hope the new pope will champion include peace, poverty alleviation, and opposition to rearmament.

Center-right voters showed the strongest preference for an Italian pope at nearly 45 percent, while support among opposition voters was just under 32 percent

“The key takeaways are the strong desire for continuity with Francis and the general indifference to nationality,” said Izi CEO Giacomo Spaini. “Francis’s emphasis on peace resonated across political and religious lines.”

The survey was conducted using a mixed CAMI-CAWI method on April 29-30 among Italian adults. PNA/ANSA