Citizenship Building Block #8: Be an (Un)Simple Pilgrim

The end of Benedict XVI's papacy also marked the somewhat conspicuous beginning of his journey as a "simple pilgrim." Benedict, the first pope to resign in 600 years, ended his tearful farewell by pledging, "I am simply a pilgrim beginning the last leg of his pilgrimage on this Earth." Benedict's farewell address and his passage from pontiff to pilgrim, points to the enduring value of the religious sojourn. It's unlikely that Benedict has too many Zen chapels, Muslim shrines or Hasidic shtebels on his itinerary, but that doesn't mean that you can't! Sojourning to an unfamiliar religious site can be inspiring, confusing, and educational. Gaining a perspective on what someone else calls "holy" can also make you a better global citizen. So visit one otherwise unfamiliar religious site this week.