VOA标准英语2010年-6 Arrested on Alleged Threat to Pope

Six men have been arrested by the Metropolitan¹ Police in London, suspected of preparing an attack against Pope Benedict who is on a state visit to Britain.

The arrests follow a warning Thursday night from the head of Britain's MI5 security service of a potential threat against the pope.

The five men, between the ages of 26 and 50, have been taken to a central London police station as officers were searching a business in central London and homes in the north and east of the city. None of the men have been charged.

It is not clear whether the investigations² relate to a plot against the pope himself or an element of the visit.

Vatican spokesman, Rev³. Federico Lombardi, says the pope was informed and is not worried and remained calm. Lombardi says the Vatican has complete trust in the British police and does not consider the situation particularly dangerous.

The pope's visit has drawn⁴ criticism in the mostly Protestant, highly secular⁵ Britain. His trip is also overshadowed by the Catholic Church's clerical abuse scandal, as well as the Vatican's stance on gay rights, abortion⁶ and contraception.

Pope Benedict held a meeting with members of other religions Friday and stressed the need for dialogue and cooperation. He was speaking at Saint Mary's University College in Twickenham.

The pope said that as followers⁷ of different religious traditions working together for the good of the community, great importance is attached to this "side by side" dimension of cooperation, which complements⁸ the "face-to-face" aspect of continuing dialogue.

The pope said that in order for dialogue to be fruitful, it requires reciprocity by all those involved.

"I am thinking in particular of situations in some parts of the world, where cooperation and dialogue between religions calls for mutual⁹ respect, the freedom to practice one's own religion and to engage in acts of public worship, and the freedom to follow one's conscience without suffering ostracism¹⁰ or persecution¹¹, even after conversion¹² from one religion to another," said Pope Benedict.

The pope added that when such respect and openness is established, people of different religions will work together effectively for peace and mutual understanding.

Earlier the pope met with thousands of cheering schoolchildren and students at the Saint Mary's University College's sports field, that has been inaugurated in honor of his predecessor¹³ Pope John Paul II and in view of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Young people cheered, sang and handed gifts to the pope. In an address to them, he urged them to ignore the temptations of the celebrity¹⁴ culture they live in. He said they should not be swayed by wealth and fame.

"Having money makes it possible to be generous and to do good in the world, but on its own it is not enough to make us happy," added Pope Benedict. "Being highly skilled in some activity or profession is good, but it will not satisfy us unless we aim for something greater still. It might make us famous but it will not make us happy."

The German pope was met by some 125,000 supporters at the start of his visit in Edinburgh, Scotland. Queen Elizabeth II officially welcomed the pontiff. This is only the second papal visit to Britain since the Church of England broke away in the 16th century. Pope Benedict is expected to conclude his trip with a beatification mass for 19th century cardinal¹⁵ John Henry Newman.
 

1 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

2 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

3 rev   

v.发动机旋转，加快速度

参考例句：

• It's his job to rev up the audience before the show starts.他要负责在表演开始前鼓动观众的热情。
• Don't rev the engine so hard.别让发动机转得太快。

4 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。

5 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

6 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。

7 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。

8 complements   

补充( complement的名词复数 )； 补足语； 补充物； 补集（数）

参考例句：

• His business skill complements her flair for design. 他的经营技巧和她的设计才能相辅相成。
• The isoseismal maps are valuable complements to the instrumental records. 等震线图是仪器记录有价值的补充资料。

9 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

10 ostracism   

n.放逐；排斥

参考例句：

• Until I emigrated to America,my family and I endured progressive ostracism and discrimination.我的家庭和我自己忍受着变本加厉的排斥和歧视直到我移居美国。
• For the first time in her life the import and horror of social ostracism flashed upon her.她生平第一次突然想到遭受社交界排斥的意义与可怕。

11 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

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 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

14 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

15 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。