2006年VOA标准英语-Pope Benedict Honors Swiss Guards 500 Year

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
22 January 2006

Swiss Guards in their blue-yellow bloomered dress uniforms attend a special mass in the Sistine Chapel¹ at the Vatican, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006   
  
Pope Benedict the XVI has thanked the Swiss Guards, who protect him, for 500 years of service. The Pope also told the faithful his first encyclical will be made public this week.

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Pope Benedict addressed the Swiss Guard, gathered in Saint Peter's Square. Pilgrims admired the guards wearing their traditional yellow, blue and red uniforms. The pope thanked the guards for their service.

The pope said 500 years ago, on January 22, 1506, Pope Julius II welcomed and blessed the first contingent² of Swiss guards, who arrived in Rome to protect him and the apostolic palace.

Earlier, a special mass was held in the frescoed³ Sistine Chapel for them and their families to commemorate⁴ the founding anniversary.

During the mass, the Swiss Guard's chaplain said that for the past 500 years, with loyalty⁵ and authentic⁶ religious spirit, young Swiss men have crossed the Alps, to offer with enthusiasm, their humble⁷ service to the Vicar of Christ.

The Swiss Guards have protected 42 popes. Today, 110 guards make up the Vatican army, which is called the smallest and oldest in the world.

Pope Benedict also told the faithful that this Sunday came in the middle of the week of prayer for Christian⁸ unity⁹, when Christians¹⁰ of different denominations¹¹ all over the world pray and reflect together.

We must not doubt, the pope said, that one day we will be one.

The Pope then told the faithful that his first encyclical titled "God is Love" will be published Wednesday on the feast of the conversion¹² of Saint Paul. That day, the Pope will celebrate vespers in the Basilica of Saint Paul with representatives of other Christian churches.

Addressing the pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square, Pope Benedict also said that among the many international concerns, his thoughts had again returned to Africa.

He said he was thinking in particular of Ivory Coast, where serious tensions persist among the country's various social and political groups. He urged all those involved to pursue a constructive¹³ dialogue to reach reconciliation¹⁴ and peace.

1 chapel   

n.小教堂，殡仪馆

参考例句：

• The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
• She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

2 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

3 frescoed   

壁画( fresco的名词复数 )； 温壁画技法，湿壁画

参考例句：

• The Dunhuang frescoes are gems of ancient Chinese art. 敦煌壁画是我国古代艺术中的瑰宝。
• The frescoes in these churches are magnificent. 这些教堂里的壁画富丽堂皇。

4 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

5 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

6 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

7 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

8 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。

9 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。

10 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

11 denominations   

n.宗派( denomination的名词复数 )；教派；面额；名称

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• The service was attended by Christians of all denominations. 这次礼拜仪式各教派的基督徒都参加了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 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。

13 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

14 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。