2006年VOA标准英语-Pope Renews Call for Open Christian-Muslim Dial

By Sabina Castelfranco
Istanbul
28 November 2006

On the first day of his visit to Turkey, Pope Benedict called for freedom of religion and said the best way forward for Christians¹ and Muslims is authentic² dialogue. Sabina Castelfranco reports for VOA from Istanbul.

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Pope Benedict XVI is seen with Ali Bardakoglu, head of Turkey's religious affairs, during their meeting in Ankara, 28 Nov 2006
Following a meeting in Ankara with the head of Turkey's religious affairs department, Ali Bardakoglu, Pope Benedict said guarantees of religious freedom are essential for a just society. In his speech, the pope also spoke³ of the need for authentic dialogue between Christians and Muslims.

The pope said Christians and Muslims belong to the family of those who believe in one God. Following their respective traditions, they point to the truth of the sacred character and dignity of the person.

"This is the basis of our mutual⁴ respect and esteem⁵, this is the basis for cooperation in the service of peace between nations and peoples," he said.

The pope said peace is the basis of all religions. He said the aim of his four-day visit to Turkey is to stimulate⁶ dialogue and a commitment to understanding between cultures and religions.

In what was clearly a reference to the comments on Islam the pope made two months ago in Germany, religious affairs director Bardakoglu said growing Islamophobia in the West and the conviction that Muslims use the sword to expand Islam hurts all Muslims.

The Muslim cleric said Islam denounces all forms of terrorism, regardless of the identity of its victims.

Many Muslims are still angry about the pope's comments, and say he never fully⁷ apologized for them. Before the pontiff's arrival, a small protest was held Tuesday outside the Diyanet, the religious affairs directorate in Ankara.

Earlier Tuesday the pope paid a courtesy visit to the Turkish president and visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder⁸ of modern Turkey.

 
Pope Benedict XVI at Ataturk's Mausoleum in Ankara, 28 Nov. 2006

Exceptional security measures have been taken for the pope's visit. His arrival at the airport was a low-key affair but he was welcomed at the foot of the plane by the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

During talks at the airport terminal, the pope described Turkey as a democratic, Islamic country and a bridge between religions.

Prime Minister Erdogan said after the meeting that the pope told him he backed Ankara's bid to join the European Union and said Islam was a religion of peace.

Benedict leaves Ankara on Wednesday for Ephesus, where the Virgin⁹ Mary is believed to have spent her last years, and he will then travel to Istanbul.

1 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

2 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

5 esteem   

n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• The veteran worker ranks high in public love and esteem.那位老工人深受大伙的爱戴。

6 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

7 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

8 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

9 virgin   

n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的

参考例句：

• Have you ever been to a virgin forest?你去过原始森林吗？
• There are vast expanses of virgin land in the remote regions.在边远地区有大片大片未开垦的土地。