2006年VOA标准英语-Pope Celebrates Mass in Krakow

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
28 May 2006

 
Pope Benedict XVI, right, offers the Holy Communion to a young girl, at Krakow's Blonia park, Poland, during the Holy Mass, Sunday, May 28, 2006 
  
In Poland, hundreds of thousands of people attended a mass Sunday celebrated¹ by Pope Benedict in the city of Krakow, where his predecessor², John Paul II, served as archbishop before becoming pope. 

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The whole city of Krakow and many more people from surrounding areas turned out in Blonia field. An estimated 900,000 people gathered for Pope Benedict's mass. To be sure they would get to see the pope, many came to the field hours ahead of time, spending the night in the rain. When the pope arrived, he was welcomed by a sea of red and white Polish flags and yellow and white Vatican flags.

Blonia field was completely filled with people, just like it used to be in the days when John Paul II celebrated masses here. Many of the faithful were moved to tears, saying it was exceptional that Pope Benedict came to visit Poland, the land of his predecessor.

Benedict said he came to meet the men and women of Poland, to experience their faith, which gave John Paul life and strength. He said when John Paul was elected, Poland became a special witness to the faith.

He called on those gathered to honor the memory of the Polish pope by sharing the treasure of his faith with the other people of Europe and with the rest of the world.

Benedict called the city of his predecessor "My Krakow." He said Krakow has a special place in the heart of countless³ Christians⁴ throughout the world who know John Paul came from this city.

He said he was deeply moved to celebrate mass where Pope John Paul II often did during his visits to his native land.

Benedict said there are no doubts that John Paul's celebration of Holy Mass in Blonia Park in Krakow was always an exceptional event.

The German pope said he had felt a deep need to visit Poland and Krakow as a pilgrim in the footsteps of his predecessor, to see the land where John Paul was born, grew up and began his tireless service to the Church.

On his final day in Poland, Pope Benedict was also scheduled to visit the former Nazi⁵ death camp at Auschwitz, a visit expected to be significant for Catholic-Jewish relations.

1 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。

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 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

4 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。

5 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。