VOA标准英语2013--Pope John Paul II to Become Saint After Miracle Approved

 

Pope John Paul II to Become Saint After Miracle Approved

It was in the small Costa Rican town of La Union de Tres Rios where the Vatican says Pope John Paul II performed his second miracle since his death - the criteria¹ required for sainthood.

The late pontiff was credited with curing Floribeth Mora, a woman from the town who had a severe brain injury. Her family prayed to the pope's memory and says she was cured on May 1, 2011.

Mora's neighbor Cecilia Chavez voiced the community's feelings.

"How can it be that in a small country such as Costa Rica, in this poor small neighborhood, this miracle took place?  It's amazing!  There are no words to describe it," she said.

Floribeth Mora had walked into a hospital in Costa Rica's capital San Jose complaining of a headache.

Neurosurgeon Alejandro Vargas Roman, who diagnosed her with a brain aneurysm, says the question of why it disappeared without surgical² intervention³ is without explanation.  "I have never read about this anywhere around the world," he said.

John Paul had already been credited with healing a French nun⁴ of Parkinson's disease.

Vatican media reports suggest the canonization ceremony could come as soon as December.

At London's Westminster Cathedral, Cardinal⁵ Cormac Murphy-O'Connor gave his reaction.

"We shouldn't be too surprised that this has happened quite quickly after his death," he said. "Because certainly in my lifetime, and many others,' he's been the most outstanding pope.  And they have Pope Gregory the Great, Pope Leo the Great, I think this will be Pope John Paul the Great."

Worshippers at Westminster Cathedral welcomed the news. 

Sisters Alice Heerey and May Lovett were visiting from Ireland.

They said: "Wonderful news for the Catholic Church  Yes.  And let's hope that it brings more people back to the Church. Especially the young people."

Pope John Paul II led the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005 - during the fall of communism, including in his native country of Poland.

But human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell questioned John Paul's legacy⁶.

"On women's rights and gay rights, he opposed them both within the Church and within the wider society," he said. "He supported laws that discriminate⁷ against women and against gay people.  I don't think such a person is fit for sainthood."

The Vatican announced another former pontiff, Pope John XXIII, will also be made a saint after the current Pope Francis waived⁸ the customary rules which require a second miracle. 

1 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

2 surgical   

adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的

参考例句：

• He performs the surgical operations at the Red Cross Hospital.他在红十字会医院做外科手术。
• All surgical instruments must be sterilised before use.所有的外科手术器械在使用之前，必须消毒。

3 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

4 nun   

n.修女，尼姑

参考例句：

• I can't believe that the famous singer has become a nun.我无法相信那个著名的歌星已做了修女。
• She shaved her head and became a nun.她削发为尼。

5 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。

6 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

7 discriminate   

v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待

参考例句：

• You must learn to discriminate between facts and opinions.你必须学会把事实和看法区分出来。
• They can discriminate hundreds of colours.他们能分辨上百种颜色。

8 waived   

v.宣布放弃( waive的过去式和过去分词 )；搁置；推迟；放弃（权利、要求等）

参考例句：

• He has waived all claim to the money. 他放弃了索取这笔钱的权利。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I waived the discourse, and began to talk of my business. 我撇开了这个话题，开始讲我的事情。 来自辞典例句