Millions of people witnessed Pope Francis’ historic visit to the United States in late September, including the several hundred thousand who traveled across the globe to attend the event. Among these pilgrims were three Stetson University students: Claire Huffman, Allie Iozzo and Chandler Steele. For the weekend of September 26, they left their school in sunny Florida for Philadelphia, the “city of brotherly love,” an appropriately named location to hear the Pope speak.

However, that was also the plan of nearly one million attendees for the Pope’s Sunday’s mass. The National Guard and state police shut down twenty-five miles of Philadelphia’s streets and prevented vehicles from entering a 4.7-mile perimeter around the city. With the amount of crowding and security surrounding the Pope’s visit, perhaps our Hatters would not have the full experience that they had anticipated.

Nevertheless, it seems that the number of people did not diminish the students’ journey, but rather enhanced it. “I’ve grown up with my faith and it has helped me through some difficult situations,” said Iozzo to Central Florida’s WFTV. “And now being here, I’ll be able to experience my faith on a whole other level because there’s going to be so many people.” United by their faith and Pope Francis’ call to help others, the Philadelphia visitors became more than a group of strangers. Our Hatters became a part of a like-minded community, inspired by the charitable acts of those around them. “Everyone has been so kind,” said Huffman in her statement to Philly.com. “They keep pushing the chair forward,” referring to the wheelchair that Iozzo uses.

In addition to receiving such kindness on their journey, the Pope’s outlook on faith has motivated one Hatter to reflect this message in his own life as well. Since Pope Francis’ appointment, Chandler Steele has changed how he views and regards strangers. “I’ve seen him be so open with everybody,” said Steele to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “The Pope has shown me that you should treat others with compassion and love.” Now inspired by his faith, Steele is studying pre-medicine at Stetson University with the goal of becoming a cardiologist to help even more people in his career.

Consequently, while security barriers and crowded streets restricted our three Hatters’ ability to travel throughout Philadelphia and witness the Pope speak, these obstacles did not limit their spiritual experience. The community of faith-goers that evolved within the city showed them the depths of charity and allowed them to practice their beliefs in a new, diverse way. So while not every individual attendee could hear the Pope’s words in person, our own students saw his message spark a growth of compassion and philanthropy across the world, even reaching our community at Stetson University.

By Kerstin Cook