2006年VOA标准英语-Pope Benedict Celebrated on Visit to Poland

By Sabina Castelfranco
Warsaw
26 May 2006

 
Pope Benedict XVI celebrates mass in Warsaw, Friday
  
The rain in Warsaw did not dampen Polish enthusiasm for Pope Benedict XVI, who is on a pilgrimage of faith and sentimental¹ journey to his predecessor²'s homeland. Hundreds of thousands turned out to welcome him in the capital and in Czestochowa.

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On his second day in Poland, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated³ morning mass in Warsaw under pouring rain. A sea of umbrellas covered the large Pilsudski Square below a large metal cross.
 
An estimated 300,000 people braved the rain. Pope Benedict spoke⁴ to those gathered in the same square where his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, nearly three decades ago inspired workers in his homeland to stand up to communism.

Delivering his homily in Italian and Polish, Benedict said to them, "How can we not thank God today for all that was accomplished⁵ in your native land and in the whole world during the Pontificate of John Paul II?"
      
And he added, "Before our eyes, changes occurred in entire political, economic and social systems. People in various countries regained⁶ their freedom and their sense of dignity."

In his homily, Pope Benedict also challenged the view that there are no absolute values, and defended the church's unchanging traditional beliefs.

In the afternoon Friday, Benedict traveled south by helicopter to Czestochowa, where he received a very warm welcome. Hundreds of thousands of people there waved flags and cheered.

Czestochowa is home to the shrine⁷ of Jasna Gora, which houses the Black Madonna, a dark icon⁸ revered⁹ by Polish Catholics. Every year, more than four million people visit the shrine, considered the most important in central Europe. Pope Benedict went inside the shrine and the Black Madonna was unveiled. Later outside, he addressed priests, nuns¹⁰, seminarians and representatives of church movements.

He urged them not to lose their faith and not to fear future duties or the unknown. The world and the church, he said, need priests. "My prayer," he said, "is that you will grow ever more numerous."

The pope spent Friday night in Krakow, where John Paul II served as a priest, bishop¹¹ and cardinal¹², until his election as pope in 1978. Saturday, Pope Benedict plans to visit Pope John Paul's birthplace.

1 sentimental   

adj.多愁善感的，感伤的

参考例句：

• She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人，她相信姻缘命中注定。
• We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。

2 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

3 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

4 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。

5 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

6 regained   

复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。

7 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

8 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

9 revered   

v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A number of institutions revered and respected in earlier times have become Aunt Sally for the present generation. 一些早年受到尊崇的惯例，现在已经成了这代人嘲弄的对象了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven. 中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。 来自辞典例句

10 nuns   

n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Ah Q had always had the greatest contempt for such people as little nuns. 小尼姑之流是阿Q本来视如草芥的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Nuns are under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. 修女须立誓保持清贫、贞洁、顺从。 来自辞典例句

11 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

12 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。