More than a million people descended on Rome to take part in the beatification ceremony of the late Pope John Paul II.
一百多万人来到罗马参加为已故教皇保罗二世举行的宣福礼。
Throngs of people jammed Saint Peter’s Square, the boulevard leading up to it and nearby piazzas for the special beatification mass at the Vatican. Thousands camped out all night and took part in an all night prayer vigil at Circus Maximus.
熙熙攘攘的人群为参加梵蒂冈的特别宣福礼弥撒而挤满了圣彼得广场，以及通向这个广场的大道及邻近的广场。好几千人整夜在户外露营，并且参加了在赛车竞技场整夜举行的守夜祈祷。
People from all corners of the world prayed, sang hymns and waved their national flags. Many were Polish who came in to honor their native son. Attending the ceremony were 90 official delegations and 16 heads of state.
来自世界各地的民众祈祷、唱赞美诗并且挥舞他们的国旗，其中许多波兰人，特意来到这里向他们的民族之子致以敬意。有九十个官方代表团和十六位国家元首参加这一仪式。
Also among the crowd was French nun, Sister Marie-Simon Pierre, who says she was miraculously cured from Parkinson’s disease after praying to the late pope.
在人群中还有法国修女皮埃尔。她说，她在向这位已故教皇祈祷后，她的帕金森病症奇妙地不治而愈。
Pope Benedict pronounced the beatification formula and a large portrait of a smiling Pope John Paul II was unveiled, to the applause of the large crowd.
教皇本笃宣告了这次宣福礼的程序，随后在群众的掌声中揭示了教皇保罗二世带着微笑的大幅肖像。
Those who took part in the ceremony spoke of the privilege they felt to be present and of how much the Polish pope meant to them.
参加这次宣福礼的人说，他们因为能来出席而感到无上荣耀，以及这位波兰籍教皇对他们有多么重要。
"He was so loving and just open and warm, and just looking at this face in pictures makes me remember the love he had for everyone," said one pilgrim.
一位会众说：“他多有爱心，多么开放而且热情，只要看看这张相片里的面容，我就记起他对每一个人的爱。”
"He’s like the traveling pope who wanted to reach out to every person and every human being on earth," remarked another.
一个人说：“他是一位老在奔波的教皇，他希望和每一个人、和地球上每一个人接触交往。”
In his homily, Pope Benedict called his predecessor an exemplary son of Poland who, through his witness of faith, love and apostolic courage, accompanied by great human charisma, helped believers throughout the world not to be afraid to be called Christian. Pope Benedict said his own service was sustained by John Paul’s spiritual depth and by the richness of his insights.
教皇本笃在布道中称他的前任为光辉的波兰之子，说他通过自己对宗教信仰的见证、热爱和宣道的勇气，更加上他无限的人际魅力，帮助全世界的信徒不因被称为基督徒而感到畏惧。教皇本笃说，保罗二世的信仰深度和丰富的洞察力也支持了他自己对上帝的服侍。
The pope also spoke of John Paul’s witness in suffering. He said the Lord gradually stripped John Paul of everything, yet he remained ever a "rock," as Christ desired.
本笃教皇还谈到保罗二世在病痛中的见证。他说，救主耶稣逐渐剥夺了保罗的一切，然而他依然是基督所期望的“磐石”。
His profound humility, Pope Benedict added, grounded in close union with Christ, enabled him to continue to lead the Church and to give to the world a message that became all the more eloquent as his physical strength declined.
教皇本笃还说，保罗二世意义深远的布道是建筑在他与基督的亲密关系上的，这使得他能继续领导罗马天主教廷，并向全世界发出了一条信息。随着他身体状况的日益衰弱，这条信息也具有日益强大的说服力。
Sunday’s beatification ceremony took place despite criticism about the record speed with which John Paul was being honored, and continued outrage about clerical abuse. Critics say he mishandled the sex-abuse scandal that has rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
在星期天举行宣福礼的同时也有人提出批评。他们对保罗二世以如此超记录的速度得此盛誉表示不满，并继续对教士虐待行为感到愤怒。也有人认为他对震撼罗马天主教会的性丑闻处理不当。
Vatican officials have insisted that John Paul deserved to be put on the road to sainthood saying this process is not a judgment of how he administered the church but rather whether he lived a life of Christian virtue.
梵蒂冈官员坚持，教皇保罗二世有资格被置于成为圣徒的道路上，他们说，这一过程并非判断他如何执掌罗马天主教会行政工作，而是判断他是否终生信守基督徒的道德。
John Paul's beatification means he has had a miracle attributed to his intercession. Another miracle will need to be recognized for him to become a saint.
保罗二世的宣福礼意味着他在为人代祷中已经行了一次神迹。他还需要再次被认定行有神迹后才能成为圣徒。 |