美国国家公共电台 NPR--Pope Francis marks 10 years as head of the Roman Catholic Church

Pope Francis marks 10 years as head of the Roman Catholic Church

Transcript¹

NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer speaks with Christopher White, Vatican correspondent for National Catholic Reporter, about what Pope Francis has achieved in the 10 years he's led the Catholic Church.

SACHA PFEIFFER, HOST:

Ten years ago today, Pope Francis became spiritual leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics. He often speaks about social justice, the rights of refugees and climate change. And he's pushed for greater transparency inside the Catholic Church. But Catholic teachings have not changed on major social issues like LGBTQ relationships, birth control and the role of women in the church. Christopher White covers the Vatican for the National Catholic Reporter. Good morning, Christopher.

CHRISTOPHER WHITE: Good morning, Sacha.

PFEIFFER: What is your view on whether Pope Francis has lived up to expectations - and for some people, hopes - that he may bring big changes to the Catholic Church?

WHITE: I think, in many respects, it's a mixed verdict. And it's an unfinished project. I think he's unsettled many of the ways the Vatican has historically operated and sort of dismantled² much of the clerical culture, sort of emphasizing service and promoting leaders that sort of share in his pastoral agenda. But I think many of his reforms sort of struggled to get past the middle managers that are hanging onto power. And so even 10 years in, we're just now seeing the pope finally having his own governance and his own constitution to reform the church. And so I think it's very much an ongoing³ effort.

PFEIFFER: He has seemed to encourage greater acceptance of people who've historically been rejected by the Catholic Church - like LGBTQ people and divorced people and women - but there's still not full acceptance. You mentioned middle managers. What's stopping the church from actually doing that? Is that - is it that middle management layer?

WHITE: Well, I think, you know, on - you mentioned LGBTQ people. And he's walked a real tightrope⁴ there. I think, you know, he's never changed church teaching. But he's, I think, radically⁵ softened⁶ the language in which the church talks about gay people. He's personally befriended gay men and women, and including employing one or two openly gay people to Vatican post as consultors. You know, he's moved cautiously, but always nudging in the direction of greater openness and welcome on this issue and others. And I think, for some people, that is viewed as, you know, compromising the church's moral authority. And for others, it's not change fast enough.

PFEIFFER: Last week, the Catholic Church in Germany said it would allow formal ceremonies to bless same-sex relationships. How likely is that to have happened without Francis being pope?

WHITE: Well, I think it's undeniable that both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI were much more nervous about starting conversations that they couldn't control. I think, you know, many theologians, many bishops⁷ feel free to explore areas of thought that just 10 years ago they perhaps would have been silenced for. And I think that is a direct effect of the Francis papacy.

PFEIFFER: Clergy⁸ sex abuse, as you know, has been extremely damaging to the Catholic Church at many levels. How effective do you consider the changes that Pope Francis has made on that front, like the church's system for reporting abuse and trying to prevent cover-ups of abuse?

WHITE: You know, I think, in 2019, when the pope called many of the bishops from around the world to effectively get them on the same page, it was considered a real step forward. I think the law itself has changed in terms of providing, you know, the how-to of holding bishops accountable for both abuse and its cover-up. That being said, we're seeing many cases where there's a lack of transparency, uneven⁹ implementation¹⁰. And I think this is an area in which, you know, even his closest allies would say there's great, great work to be done for greater transparency and greater action.

PFEIFFER: Women. Women are taking, more often, active roles in the church. But there is still no woman at the head of a Vatican office. And there's no indication that the church is any closer to letting women become priests. How likely do you think that is to ever change?

WHITE: Yes, that sort of, you know, stained glass ceiling has not been shattered. And, you know, I think the question of women priests is a difficult one. The pope has continued to repeat the line of Pope John Paul II that it's more or less a closed conversation. That being said, he's initiated¹¹ a consultation¹² process with Catholics around the world about a number of hot-button issues. And he's at least allowing conversation to take place on that issue. It still seems, for many church leaders, especially bishops and cardinals¹³, a bridge too far. But it is a conversation that, at least at the grassroots level, is free to take place and happen now in a way that we haven't seen in the last, you know, 30 or 40 years, to be sure.

PFEIFFER: There are certainly people disappointed that change has not come faster. But do you assume that at some level the pope thinks baby steps are necessary when you're trying to change centuries of history?

WHITE: I think he's a pope very well aware that he's leading a church of 1.3 billion Catholics, many of whom are in the Global South, that are out of sync with some of the, you know, more progressive values of the Western world. He's trying to move very cautiously and carefully to maintain and preserve unity¹⁴. And that's a very difficult and daunting¹⁵ challenge, especially for a man who's 86 years old.

PFEIFFER: Oh, that's interesting, isn't it? From - the church sort of shifting from the more progressive Europe to more conservative South America, it plays out in how he is the pope.

WHITE: Yes. And he is the first pope from the Global South, and which I think has brought a new perspective to Rome.

PFEIFFER: Interesting. That's Christopher White. He covers the Vatican for the National Catholic Reporter. Thank you very much.

WHITE: Thanks, Sacha.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 dismantled   

拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消

参考例句：

• The plant was dismantled of all its equipment and furniture. 这家工厂的设备和家具全被拆除了。
• The Japanese empire was quickly dismantled. 日本帝国很快被打垮了。

3 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

4 tightrope   

n.绷紧的绳索或钢丝

参考例句：

• The audience held their breath as the acrobat walked along the tightrope.杂技演员走钢丝时，观众都屏住了呼吸。
• The tightrope walker kept her balance by holding up an umbrella.走钢丝的演员举着一把伞，保持身体的均衡。

5 radically   

ad.根本地，本质地

参考例句：

• I think we may have to rethink our policies fairly radically. 我认为我们可能要对我们的政策进行根本的反思。
• The health service must be radically reformed. 公共医疗卫生服务必须进行彻底改革。

6 softened   

（使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰

参考例句：

• His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
• The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。

7 bishops   

（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象

参考例句：

• Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。
• "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。

8 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

9 uneven   

adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的

参考例句：

• The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
• The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。

10 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

11 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

12 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

13 cardinals   

红衣主教( cardinal的名词复数 )； 红衣凤头鸟（见于北美，雄鸟为鲜红色）； 基数

参考例句：

• cardinals in scarlet robes 身披红袍的枢机主教
• A conclave of cardinals was held to elect the new Pope. 红衣主教团举行了秘密会议来选举新教皇。

14 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

15 daunting   

adj.使人畏缩的

参考例句：

• They were faced with the daunting task of restoring the house.他们面临着修复房子的艰巨任务。
• Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.开始一项新工作有时会让人望而却步。