Pope Benedict XVI has wrapped up his visit to the Holy Land with a message of hope for peace. The pope left Tel Aviv Friday following a five-day journey to Israel and the Palestinian territories in which he pledged support for Palestinian statehood, paid tribute to Holocaust victims, and called on Christians to hold fast as their numbers in the Holy Land dwindle. He also drew criticism from the Israelis for his strong show of solidarity with the Palestinians.
教皇本笃十六世在结束他的朝圣之旅时，发表了和平希望的信息。教皇星期五离开特拉维夫结束他对以色列和巴勒斯坦领土的五天访问，其间他承诺支持巴勒斯坦的立国之举，悼念了种族灭绝大屠杀的牺牲者，并且呼吁基督教徒坚守信仰，尽管他们在圣地的人数减少。
Pope Benedict ended his visit to Jerusalem with a moment of prayer at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which is on the spot revered by most Christian denominations as the place where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected nearly 2,000 years ago.
教皇本笃结束他对耶路撒冷的访问时，在圣墓教堂作祈祷。大部分的基督教徒认为，大约2000年前耶稣正是在那里被钉上十字架、被埋葬以及随后复活的。
Words of encouragement
The head of the Roman Catholic Church prayed at the empty tomb believed to be that of Christ. He had words of encouragement for those who live in constant turmoil on this land.
这位罗马天主教会领袖在据信是耶稣的空墓穴边祈祷，他对住在这片动乱不休的土地上的人们发表了鼓励的言辞。
"The empty tomb speaks to us of hope, the hope that does not disappoint because it is the gift of the spirit of life. This is the message that I wish to leave with you today at the conclusion of my pilgrimage to the Holy Land," the pope said. "May hope rise up ever new by God's Grace in the words of all the people dwelling in these lands. May it take root in your hearts and inspire each of you and your faithful witness for the Prince of Peace."
他说：“这个空坟墓向我们述说希望，由于这是生命精神的赏赐，所以绝不会令人失望。这正是我在今天结束我的朝圣之旅时想留给你们的信息。”
Building culture of peace
During his five-day trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories, the pope - head of the world's largest denomination of Christians - pushed for the strengthening of bonds among the three major religions that converge here, reaching out to Jews and Muslims. In homilies to Palestinians, he called for the building of a culture of peace and a rejection of hatred, anger, and violence.
这位世界最大的基督教会领袖在对以色列和巴勒斯坦领土作五天访问期间，敦促会集当地的三大主要宗教加强联系，要求基督教徒向犹太教徒和穆斯林伸出友好的手。他在向巴勒斯坦人布道时，呼吁开创和平的文化氛围、弃绝仇恨、愤怒和暴力。
In the final remarks of his journey, the pontiff called on people here not to lose hope.
教皇在结束这次行程前的临别赠言是：要求人民不要失去希望。
"The Gospel reassures us that God can make all things new, that history need not be repeated, that memories can be healed, that the bitter fruits of recrimination and hostility can be overcome and that a future of justice, peace, prosperity and cooperation can arise for every man and woman, for the whole human family, and in a special way for the people who dwell in this land so dear to the heart of the Savior," Pope Benedict said.
The 82-year-old pontiff balanced his purpose of pilgrimage with politics. The visit was less than peaceful at times.
这位现年82岁的教皇把他的朝圣宗旨与政治相平衡。这次访问旅程并不始终风平浪静。
Israel criticizes message to Palestinians
He got criticism from the Israelis after speaking in defense of the Palestinians who are living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank, and pledging the Vatican's support for the Palestinians' right to a homeland. He also expressed solidarity with the people of Gaza following Israel's recent assault on militants there, and called for the lifting of the embargo imposed by Israel and Egypt.
他发表言论维护居住在被以色列占领的约旦河西岸的巴勒斯坦人的权益，并且承诺梵帝冈支持巴勒斯坦人的建国权利，他随即受到以色列人的批评。
Some Israelis also accused him of not expressing enough regret when he paid tribute - early in his visit - to the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.
有些以色列人还指责他在旅程初期瞻仰种族灭绝大屠杀的六百万受难犹太人的纪念馆时，所表达的哀悼与遗憾不够深刻。
In his remarks on the Tarmac before his return to Rome, the pope renewed his call for Palestinian statehood and called Israel's security barrier one of the saddest sites of his visit. He summed up the call he made throughout this trip, which he said was a pilgrimage of peace.
在他登机启程返回罗马前的临别致词中，他再次呼吁建立巴勒斯坦国，并说以色列修筑的安全围墙是他这次访问中最令人痛心的景象。他把这次旅程总结为和平朝圣之旅。
"Allow me to make this appeal to all the people of these lands: No more bloodshed. No more fighting. No more terrorism. No more war," he said.
他说：“请允许我向这些土地上的所有人民发出这一呼吁：不要再流血，不要再争斗，杜绝恐怖主义，结束战争。”
Pontiff reaches out to Israelis
The pope reached out to the Israelis as he left.
这位教皇临别时，也向以色列致以善意。
He recalled his visit to Israel's Holocaust memorial as one of the most solemn moments of his trip, and repeated his call for the Holocaust never to be denied.
他回忆自己对以色列大屠杀纪念馆的访问是这次旅途中最为沉重的时刻之一，他还再三呼吁决不容否认种族灭绝大屠杀的史实。
The pontiff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. Mr. Netanyahu says he asked the pope to use his authority as a moral figure to make his voice heard against statements from Iran about its intention to destroy the Jewish State. The Israeli leader said the pope condemns all manifestations of anti-Semitism and hatred, and he said he believes the pope lent a sympathetic ear.
Mr. Netanyahu, along with Israeli President Shimon Peres, were among those bidding Pope Benedict farewell at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport. |