VOA常速英语2008年-On Easter Sunday, Pope Benedict Urges Solutions

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
23 March 2008

Thousands of pilgrims gathered at the Vatican's Saint Peter's Square for Pope Benedict's open-air Easter Mass. In his Easter message, the Pope urged solutions to world trouble spots including Sudan's troubled Darfur region and Somalia in Africa, the tormented¹ Middle East, and Tibet.  Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome.

Addressing the throng² of pilgrims from the steps of the basilica overlooking Saint Peter's Square, Pope Benedict explained the importance of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Pope Benedict said the death and resurrection of Jesus is an event of invincible³ love. It changed the course of history giving to human life an indestructible and renewed meaning and value. He added that Jesus died and rose for all, saying he is our hope.

The Pope was addressing the faithful in his "Urbi et Orbi" message for  Easter, the holiest day in the Church's liturgical⁴ calendar.

In his message, the Pope focused his attention on some of the world's trouble spots. He urged solutions in areas bloodied⁵ by conflict and where human dignity continues to be scorned and trampled⁶.

Among them, Pope Benedict mentioned Darfur and Somalia in Africa, Iraq and Lebanon in the Middle East, and Tibet in Asia.

The Pope said that often, relations between individuals, groups and peoples are marked not by love but by selfishness, injustice⁷, hatred⁸ and violence.

Under gray skies and pouring rain, tens of thousands of people had gathered from early in the morning in Saint Peter's Square to take part in the Pope's Easter Sunday Mass. A sea of flowers from Holland adorned⁹ the steps of the basilica for a joyous¹⁰ celebration.
 
Millions all over the world watched the service, broadcast live on television to 57 countries. After giving his Easter blessing¹¹, the Pope greeted pilgrims in more than 60 different languages. 

On Holy Saturday during an Easter Vigil Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica, the Pope baptized Italy's most prominent and controversial Muslim journalist and commentator¹². Fifty-five-year-old Magdi Allam was born in Egypt and is deputy editor of the leading newspaper Corriere della Sera.

Allam, a fierce critic of Islamic extremism and a strong supporter of Israel, is protected by a police escort because of threats he has received. His conversion¹³ to Christianity was a well-kept secret.

Pope Benedict baptized a total of seven adults during the service. The pope traditionally baptizes adult converts to Catholicism on Easter eve.

1 tormented   

饱受折磨的

参考例句：

• The knowledge of his guilt tormented him. 知道了自己的罪责使他非常痛苦。
• He had lain awake all night, tormented by jealousy. 他彻夜未眠，深受嫉妒的折磨。

2 throng   

n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集

参考例句：

• A patient throng was waiting in silence.一大群耐心的人在静静地等着。
• The crowds thronged into the mall.人群涌进大厅。

3 invincible   

adj.不可征服的，难以制服的

参考例句：

• This football team was once reputed to be invincible.这支足球队曾被誉为无敌的劲旅。
• The workers are invincible as long as they hold together.只要工人团结一致，他们就是不可战胜的。

4 liturgical   

adj.礼拜仪式的

参考例句：

• This period corresponds with the liturgical season of Christmas.这个时期与圣诞节的礼拜季节相一致。
• This is a book of liturgical forms.这是一本关于礼拜仪式的书。

5 bloodied   

v.血污的( bloody的过去式和过去分词 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的

参考例句：

• his bruised and bloodied nose 他沾满血的青肿的鼻子
• His pants leg was torn and bloodied when he fell. 他跌交时裤腿破了，还染上了血。 来自辞典例句

6 trampled   

踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯

参考例句：

• He gripped his brother's arm lest he be trampled by the mob. 他紧抓着他兄弟的胳膊，怕他让暴民踩着。
• People were trampled underfoot in the rush for the exit. 有人在拼命涌向出口时被踩在脚下。

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 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

9 adorned   

[计]被修饰的

参考例句：

• The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。
• And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。

10 joyous   

adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的

参考例句：

• The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
• They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。

11 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

12 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。

13 conversion   

n.转化，转换，转变

参考例句：

• He underwent quite a conversion.他彻底变了。
• Waste conversion is a part of the production process.废物处理是生产过程的一个组成部分。