VOA慢速英语2021--身穿蜘蛛侠服装的男子与教皇方济各见面

When Pope Francis meets with followers¹ on Wednesdays, he is usually the most notable person at the gathering².

However, on a recent Wednesday, the Roman Catholic leader played second to another man. That man, Matteo Villardita, was made up to look like the famous Marvel³ Comic Book creation, Spider-Man.

He came to the public gathering to speak to the pope.

The 28-year-old Villardita appears as Spider-Man to cheer the sick children he visits in hospitals. He said he was going to see children later that Wednesday at Vatican City's hospital for children.

Villardita spoke⁴ with Pope Francis, asking him to pray for the sick children and their families. He also gave the pope an extra Spider-Man mask.

Wearing his costume, Villardita took photos with children in an open outdoor space inside the Roman Catholic Church headquarters.

The Vatican called Villardita "a really good superhero" and noted⁵ his good work during the COVID-19 health crisis.

Villardita reportedly made 1,400 video calls to children in hospitals over the last year while Italy was under COVID-19 restrictions⁶. He said it was exciting to meet the pope who, in Villardita's words, "immediately understood my mission."

Words in This Story

costume –n. the clothes that are worn by someone (such as an actor) who is trying to look like a different person or thing

mask –n. a covering used to hide or disguise your face

mission –n. a task or job that someone is given to do

1 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

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 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制