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Pope Benedict XVI has celebrated¹ an outdoor Mass for more than 45,000 people in Washington, D.C. The pope expressed concerns about problems in modern society and once again addressed the sex scandal that has rocked the church.

罗马天主教皇本笃在华盛顿为4万5千人举行露天弥撒。教皇对现代社会中的问题表示担心。他再次谈到震惊教会的性丑闻事件。

Tens of thousands of worshippers packed the stadium on a crystal clear day as Pope Benedict, dressed in scarlet² vestments, arrived in the white popemobile. The pontiff led the service from a towering white and gold altar erected³ in a new baseball stadium.

在这个万里无云的晴朗日子，身著红色长袍的教皇本笃乘坐教皇专车，抵达挤满成千上万名信徒的体育场。在这个新棒球场上立着一个高大的白色和金色神坛。教皇就在神坛上主持弥撒活动。

Benedict told the crowd that the world is at a crossroads. On the one hand he says it is a time of great promise, but the pope says there are also clear signs of what he called a disturbing breakdown⁴ in the foundations of society.

教皇对在场的人说，世界处在一个十字路口。一方面，教皇说，这是个有伟大希望的时代；但是另一方面，他说，还有明显迹象显示他所说的社会基础崩溃令人感到不安。

"Signs of alienation⁵, anger and polarization on the part of many of our contemporaries, increased violence, a weakening of the moral sense, a coarsening of social relations and a growing forgetfulness of Christ and God," said Pope Benedict.

教皇说：“在我们许多同仁身上出现的排外、愤怒和多极化现象增加了暴力、削弱了道德、加剧社会关系紧张，让人逐渐忘却耶稣和上帝。”

Benedict says Americans have always been a people of hope and told the faithful their ancestors came to this country with the expectation of finding new freedom and opportunity.

教皇说，美国人民一直是个充满希望的民族。他对在场的信徒说，他们的祖先带着发现新自由和新机会的期待来到美国。

But the pontiff says that promise was not fulfilled for all in America.

但是教皇说，并不是所有美国人都实现了自己的愿望。

"One thinks of the injustices⁶ endured by the native American peoples and by those brought here forcibly from Africa as slaves. Yet hope, hope for the future, is very much a part of the American character," he said.

他说，“我想到美洲土著人和那些从非洲作为奴隶被强征到美洲的人受到的不公平待遇。然而，希望、对未来的希望在美国人的特性中是一个非常重要的部分。”

For the third consecutive⁷ day, Benedict spoke⁸ about the sex abuse scandal that has led to the removal of hundreds of priests and cost the U.S. church $2 billion in damages.

教皇本笃连续第三天谈到性侵犯丑闻，这一事件已经导致数百名神父被开除，它给美国天主教会造成20亿美元损失。

"It is in the context of his hope born of God's love and fidelity⁹ that I acknowledge the pain which the Church in America has experienced as a result of the sexual abuse of minors," he said. "No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted¹⁰ by such abuse."

教皇说：“本着上帝的爱和仁慈，我承认美国天主教会由于对未成年人的性侵害所经历的痛苦。我无法用语言表达性侵害造成的痛苦和伤害。”

Pope Benedict says it is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention. He says he cannot adequately describe the damage that has occurred within the community of the Catholic Church in America.

教皇本笃说，那些遭受痛苦的人得到有爱心的精神指导很重要。他说，他无法充分形容美国天主教会团体内部受到的伤害。

"Great efforts have already been made to deal honestly and fairly with this tragic¹¹ situation, and to ensure that children, whom our Lord loves so deeply, and who are our greatest treasure, can grow up in a safe environment," he said. "These efforts to protect children must continue."

他说：“人们已经采取了重大措施来诚实公平地处理这些悲剧。保证儿童，我们的主所深爱的儿童，我们最珍贵的宝贝儿童，能够在安全的环境里成长。这些保护儿童的努力必须继续下去。”

Most Catholic dioceses in America now require criminal background checks on employees and have taught parents and children how to recognize signs of abuse.

美国大多数天主教教区现在要求对雇员进行刑事背景调查，并且教导家长和儿童如何识别性侵害现象。

Near the end of the Mass Benedict walked down from the altar to distribute Holy Communion.

在弥撒快结束时，教皇本笃走下神坛分发圣餐。

At the conclusion of the two-hour service he blessed the cheering crowd and strolled through a multitude of the faithful who reached out to shake his hand or touch his robe.

在两个小时的活动结束时，教皇本笃为欢呼的人群祝福，走过伸手和他握手或者触摸他的长袍的大批信众。

For Catholics like Odianosen Igene it was a moving service.

对于天主教徒伊杰恩来说，弥撒活动让他感动。

"I am just thankful to God to be in the presence of the pope," said Igene. "This is my first time ever seeing a pope and it was something special. I felt very honored."

伊杰恩说：“我感谢上帝，我与教皇同在。这是我第一次见到一位教皇。这是很特殊的经历。我感到非常荣幸。”

Marylou Francisco had a similar experience.

弗朗西斯科也有同感。

"It was wonderful," she said. "It was so peaceful. It was so great."

他说：“太完美了。这么祥和。这么伟大。”

Pope Benedict will address the United Nations Friday in New York.

教皇本笃星期五将在纽约联合国总部发表讲话。