VOA慢速英语2015 教皇弗朗西斯历史性访问美国

AS IT IS 2015-09-13 Pope Francis to Make Historic Trip to US

His visit in September will be another first for the popular pope.

Even though Francis is the “first American pope,” born and raised in South America, he has not yet been to this America — the United States of America.

Large numbers of people are expected to come see the pope in the three cities he will visit: Washington, DC, New York, and Philadelphia. Crowds in Washington are expected to be so large that federal government workers have been encouraged to work from home when Francis is here. In total, the pope’s trip will last from September 22-27.

Masses, meetings and speeches

Pope Francis is known to speak publicly about many controversial issues. But in an interview with VOA, the Archbishop of Washington says the pope probably will not discuss politics while he is here. Cardinal² Donald Wuerl calls the trip a “pastoral visit.”

“He is coming as a spiritual leader, as a shepherd of souls. And so I think that whatever we hear from him has to be heard and seen through that lens – that he has

come not to talk politics, not to talk public policy, but to talk about the values that come out of the Gospel message.”

Thousands of people are expected on the South Lawn of the White House for the pope’s arrival on September 23. They will help President Barack Obama greet Francis.

The White House invited a cross-section of people representing American religious life to attend. They include leaders of Christian³ evangelical groups, a gay Catholic blogger, and a Roman Catholic nun⁴ who leads bus tours for social justice.

Francis and Mr. Obama will talk privately⁵ after the South Lawn reception.  A White House spokesperson says the president hopes to discuss the environment, immigrants and refugees, and religious freedom.

Pope Francis has addressed these topics before. Last May, Francis’ encyclical on climate change called for wealthy nations to overcome global warming. And he has drawn⁶ attention to the plight⁷ of migrants.

As with other trips he has taken, the Pope will move between the powerful and the poor. After his speech to Congress – the first by any pontiff – the pope will visit a homeless shelter.

Also while in Washington, he will say an outdoor Mass in Spanish. And he will canonize the 18th-century Spanish missionary⁸ Junipero Serra, who founded a series of missions in California.

In Philadelphia Pope Francis will speak at Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was approved. Then he will visit a prison.

And in New York City, Pope Francis will address the United Nations General Assembly and visit the September 11 memorial.

Cardinal Wuerl says the pope will talk about building a good and just society.

“I would expect that we are going to hear from him a call to work together to address the needs of our brothers and sisters especially the, less fortunate.”

Rock star status

Everywhere the pope goes, people are expected to line the roads, hoping to see him. Social media platforms are getting ready for a large increase in activity. Wireless⁹ carriers are bringing in portable cell towers. 

In Philadelphia, antennas¹⁰ are being added to streetlights.  A closing Mass there is expected to draw more than 1 million people.

Pope Francis’ “rock star” image is confirmed by Twitter. His accounts are in nine languages, including Arabic, and now he has 22.7 million followers¹¹. That is more than singers Miley Cyrus or Nicki Minaj have.

Change agent

Many of his followers are talking about the pope’s recent statements.  He says women can be forgiven if they have an abortion¹². He also wants to speed the annulment¹³ process, so people who want to end a marriage might be able to do so and remarry in the church.

Austen Iverreigh wrote a biography of Francis called “The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical¹⁴ Pope.” He calls Francis a change agent. But, the author says the pope is not trying to change fundamental church teachings.

“What I keep saying is look, he’s a faithful son of the church, he is not about changing church doctrine¹⁵ or teachings, he’s a very strong defender¹⁶ of core Catholic teachings.”

Mr. Iverreigh says the pope wants to “put the loving mercy of God front and center.”

In the United States, attendance in Catholic churches has been declining. The Pew Research Center estimates that four out of 10 American adults who were born Catholic no longer identify themselves as Catholic.

The U.S. Roman Catholic Church is also still suffering from the wounds of a sex scandal. At least 300 members of the Catholic clergy¹⁷ have been convicted of sexual assault, according to Bishop¹ Accountability, a private group that watches the scandal. Settlement payments to victims and other costs have totaled around $3 billion. The Church has been accused of trying to protect priests who committed these crimes.

Mr. Ivereigh says Pope Francis knows what “the anxieties and the pastoral needs” of the U.S. are. And, he says, he thinks the pope will address those needs when he visits at the end of this month.

Words in This Story

homilies –n. (plural) sermons

pastoral – adj. relating to spiritual care or guidance

cross-section –n. small group of examples of people in a larger group

encyclical –n. an official letter from the pope to bishops¹⁸

plight –n. a very bad or difficult situation

pontiff –n. pope

canonize –v. to officially declare someone a saint

just – adj. fair to all people

annulment –v. to say officially a marriage is no longer valid¹⁹

change agent –n. someone who brings change

1 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

2 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。

3 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

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 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

6 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

7 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

8 missionary   

adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士

参考例句：

• She taught in a missionary school for a couple of years.她在一所教会学校教了两年书。
• I hope every member understands the value of missionary work. 我希望教友都了解传教工作的价值。

9 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

10 antennas   

[生] 触角，触须（antenna的复数形式）

参考例句：

• Marconi tied several antennas to kites. 马可尼在风筝上系了几根天线。 来自超越目标英语 第3册
• Radio astronomy today is armed with the largest antennas in the world. 射电天文学拥有世界上最大的天线。

11 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。

12 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

13 annulment   

n.废除，取消，（法院对婚姻等）判决无效

参考例句：

• The annulment caused a profound impression in Japan. 同盟的废止，在日本发生了强烈的反响。 来自辞典例句
• Law An annulment acquittal; dismissal, of a court order. 取消，宣告无罪；法院命令的撤销。 来自互联网

14 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

15 doctrine   

n.教义；主义；学说

参考例句：

• He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
• The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。

16 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

17 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。

18 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。

19 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？