Bob, it is the same in Italy, one of my haunts.

For Sunday mass in the churches in Rome there are only a handful attending, mostly older people sitting down the front while the huge church is empty.

I asked a Rome resident what the population thought of the Pope....he said half adore him and the other half would like to do away with him (literally).  He opinioned that most of the crowds attending events at the Vatican are tourists.  

However, even an Atheist like me has an opinion......I think the new Pope Francis is like a breath of fresh air.