VOA标准英语2013--Shock and Hope at Vatican After Benedict's Announcement

 

Shock and Hope at Vatican After Benedict's Announcement

On St. Peter's Square, visitors from around the world were talking about the historic announcement, the first of its kind in nearly 600 years. Most people were sympathetic.

“In one way I am shocked because popes have quite often gone until they die, but on another side, I have admiration¹ for his choice," said a woman who gave her name as Nicky.

Another visitor, Steve, said he understood. "I think Pope Benedict has set a new standard, really."

“My parents called me all the way from Colombia to tell me," said yet another tourist, Melissa. "We were all a bit shocked. Like, why? So, yeah, it was basically a shocking news.”

But at least one young woman from a South Korean Catholic family thought it was a bad decision.

“I was just shocked because... God selected him, so I think he needs to do his duty until his death," she said.

Reporter Alessandro Speciale, who covers the Vatican for the Religion News Service, said Pope Benedict “changed the job description” for future popes. The Roman Catholic Church suffered for lack of strong leadership during the declining years of the previous pope, John Paul II, Speciale said, adding that the church can not afford another period like that, particularly with the scandal of sexual abuse by priests still looming².

“The church is booming and it is very young, both as priests and as believers, in the southern part of the world, and so the risk of cases such as these is still very high there, and is potentially devastating³ for the church,” Speciale said.

Speciale said strong guidelines and enforcement are needed to prevent the church from losing the moral high ground in its main growth areas, Africa and Latin America.

There was lots of speculation⁴ on St. Peter's Square about whether the new pope might come from one of those areas. Most said they would welcome such a move that could bring the church closer to the people of the southern hemisphere. But they also said the pope's ethnicity is not as important as his spirituality, and his ability to inspire faith in others. 

1 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

2 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

3 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

4 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。