Pope St. John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyla, was elected pope in 1978, the first non-Italian pope in over 400 years. Throughout his life, he was known for his love of young people, often taking groups on hiking and skiing trips that involved Mass and theological discussions. During his nearly thirty-year pontificate, Pope John Paul II established World Youth Day, traveled to over 129 countries, and aided in the downfall of communism in his native Poland. Pope St. John Paul II was canonized in 2014, along with Pope St. John XXIII, by Pope Francis. Pope St. John Paul II is a patron saint of World Youth Day.