Going And Coming Back

I read where Italians are coming back to the church, the mass I assume, in noticeable numbers all because of Pope Francis.  I used to think that a pope did not make the difference in coming or going, but that it was all about, "the times."  People were just giving up on religion in general for other reasons.  But if they are coming back because of a pope, did they then leave because of a pope?  And we are making one of them a saint?  Interesting times.