VOA常速英语2007年-Pope Calls for End of Conflict in World's Crisi

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
25 December 2007

Pope Benedict XVI has used his traditional Christmas day message to appeal for an end to the bloody¹ conflicts in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere around the world. Thousands turned out to hear his words in Saint Peter's Square. Sabina Castelfranco reports for VOA from Rome.

A huge crowd in Saint Peter's Square applauded when Pope Benedict appeared at the central balcony of the basilica to deliver his third Christmas message since his election. After the Vatican band played the anthem², Benedict said: 'A holy day has dawned upon us. Today the Savior of mankind is born.'

Thousands gathered under sunny skies in Rome and listened carefully to the pope's words.

 "This is Christmas, " The pope said, "the historical event and the mystery of love, which for more than 2,000 years has spoken to men and woman of every era and every place. It is the holy day on which the great light of Christ shines forth⁴, bearing peace. Benedict added that if we are to recognize and receive it, faith and humility⁵ are needed."

The pope expressed the hope that the light of Christ, which comes to enlighten every human being, may shine forth and bring consolation⁶ to those who live in the darkness of poverty, injustice⁷ and war.

Benedict said it is the most vulnerable members of society:  women, children and the elderly - who are so often the victims of brutal⁸ armed conflicts, terrorism and violence of every kind, which inflict⁹ such terrible sufferings on entire populations.

The pope said that on this day of peace, his thoughts turned especially to those places where the grim sound of arms continues to reverberate¹⁰. First he spoke³ about the African continent, mentioning the tortured regions of Darfur, Somalia, Congo and the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Then he spoke of the Middle East, especially Iraq, Lebanon and the Holy Land. And then he mentioned Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Balkans.

Benedict urged political leaders to have the wisdom and courage to end these conflicts around the world. At the end of his message, he delivered Christmas greetings in more than 60 different languages. Millions were following him as his message was broadcast live around the world.

On Christmas Eve, before celebrating Midnight Mass inside Saint Peter's Basilica, the pope lit a candle of peace at his study window as a new floodlit Nativity scene was officially unveiled in the square, next to a huge Christmas tree.

This year the larger-than-life-size statues of the baby Jesus and his family have been placed in a Nativity scene set not in a Bethlehem stable, but in a room in Joseph's house in Nazareth.

Vatican officials say the change was made to illustrate¹¹ the notion that Jesus was born everywhere, not just in Bethlehem. 

1 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

2 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

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 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

5 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

6 consolation   

n.安慰，慰问

参考例句：

• The children were a great consolation to me at that time.那时孩子们成了我的莫大安慰。
• This news was of little consolation to us.这个消息对我们来说没有什么安慰。

7 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

8 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

9 inflict   

vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担

参考例句：

• Don't inflict your ideas on me.不要把你的想法强加于我。
• Don't inflict damage on any person.不要伤害任何人。

10 reverberate   

v.使回响，使反响

参考例句：

• The decision will reverberate and will jar the country.这项决定将引起反响并震撼这个国家。
• Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my hear.痛苦呼喊的一遍遍的在我的心中回响。

11 illustrate   

v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图

参考例句：

• The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
• This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。