VOA常速英语2007-World Religious Leaders to Meet to Discuss Globa

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
05 October 2007

Some 200 representatives of the world's religions will meet later this month in the southern Italian city of Naples to discuss a range of issues focusing on violence in the world. The meeting is being organized by the Catholic Community of Sant'Egidio and the Archdiocese of Naples. Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome.

Among those taking part in the gathering¹ are Pope Benedict and the heads of state of the African nations of Tanzania and Malawi.

The religious leaders are expected to discuss such issues as AIDS, immigration, conflict resolution in the Middle East and the plight² of Africa.

Africa has been hit particularly hard by problems related to violence, poverty and disease.

Mario Marazziti is a spokesman for the Catholic Community of Sant'Egidio with the Archdiocese of Naples. The community organized the two-day event. He says there is concern among members of the group that the international community may give up on Africa.

"We are really worried about Afro-pessimism and the fact that many countries are abandoning Africa thinking that Africa is too complicated," said Marazziti. "So the presence of the presidents of Tanzania and Malawi for us means from Africa a real contribution to how a common future must be built."

Organizers were inspired by the World Day of Prayer for Peace convened³ by Pope John Paul II in Assisi in October 1986. They say they are concerned about the level of violence in everyday life, and that some conflicts find their roots in religious differences.

Catholic Community spokesman Marazziti says participants will discuss how religions can help resolve the world's conflicts instead of fueling them.

Pope Benedict will conduct mass in Naples on October 21, to coincide with the start of the two-day gathering.

He plans to meet with other representatives of the world's religions. Among them: Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople; the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams; Israel's chief rabbi, Yona Metzger; and the rector of the Al-Azhar University in Egypt, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb.

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 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。

3 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。