The pope effect: human connectivity

While many Philadelphians planned long-weekend getaways in an effort to escape the all-but-certain mayhem of Pope Francis’s visit to our city, others chose to stay in town either to bear witness to said mayhem or to get a chance to be in close proximity to His Holiness.

 

If you turned on the news or took to social media last weekend, you were undoubtedly flooded with photos, videos and accounts of events unfolding, almost all with one theme: love.

In the daunting months of planning prior to the pope’s arrival, so many emotions were expressed. Many people conveyed frustration at the city’s decision-making, worrying about issues like safety and mobility, while some others were excited at the city’s opportunity to host such a massive and important event. Within the LGBT community, the overall tone was one of passion and urgency to get our issues addressed: What does the pope have to say about same-sex marriage? Will he meet with LGBT families? Will he take a more positive stance on transgender rights? What will he say to help LGBT Catholics in our country feel more accepted within their faith?

In reality, the papal visit, as it relates to LGBT issues, was mostly a wash, with the real highlight being Mayor Nutter’s speech on Saturday, which directly addressed LGBT rights as well as his sentiments toward his gay late mentor, John Anderson. Yet, many LGBT people in Philadelphia are not shouting their dismay but instead have aligned themselves with the more general feelings among residents that it was a beautiful and successful weekend full of love and positivity. One community member, Aeryanah Von Moi, wrote on Facebook on Sunday afternoon just before the Papal Mass: “We may not all believe in God but we all believe in love … and you can’t deny love is sweeping through the streets of Philadelphia this weekend.” So, why aren’t more LGBT people angry that the pope did little to advance rights for LGBT Catholics in America? The answer is simple: Human connection is powerful, and what Philadelphia felt last weekend was the profound power of a group of people unified around a common purpose, in this case hosting the pope.

Whether you believe in God, Allah, Buddha, Yahweh, the Universe or just yourself and the random nature of being alive, when we feel connected to other humans we are more in touch with feelings of happiness, kindness and love. Research in social psychology has long found that individuals who feel connected to communities of people are at lower risk for mental illness and tend to recover more quickly from negative events like trauma or physical illness. In addition to making us feel good, we are also much more likely to do good for others as well as our immediate environment when we feel connected to others. To go further, people are inclined to want to maintain these sorts of strong connections beyond the initial attainment of such connectivity. Not only does this speak to the deep-rooted loyalty we have for the LGBT community in Philadelphia, but I think it could also speak to a ripple effect of kindness and connection within the larger Philadelphia community.

Maybe in another week the streets won’t feel as clean, the subway won’t smell as nice and restaurants will have waits again, but perhaps certain elements of the pope’s visit can remain. Inspired by the warmth of feelings accompanying such a powerful weekend, maybe, just maybe, Philadelphians will continue this uptick of happiness, kindness and love. Either way, to do your part, why not give it a try?

Kristina Furia is a psychotherapist specializing in issues and concerns of the LGBTQ community in addition to depression, anxiety, substance abuse and other mental illnesses. Her private practice, Philadelphia LGBTQ Counseling, offers both individual and couples sessions (www.lgbtphillytherapy.com).

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