VOA标准英语2015--教皇造访美国成社交媒体焦点

Twitter # Gives Back to Social Media Pope¹ 教皇造访美国成社交媒体焦点

He is the most followed world leader on Twitterand for his first visit to Washington, Pope Francis is getting a very special gift, thanks to social media.

Twitter brought volunteers together to welcome the pope.

United by a hashtag (#), Catholics in the U.S. capital are carrying out a pledge³ to "Walk with Francis."

The Archdiocese of Washington started the hashtag for the papal visit.

Sarah Yaklic helped create the online pledge so that people could follow the Pope’s example and invite others on social media to join in.

“They are transforming the city, so the ways they are serving, maybe they are trying new methods of prayer or new advocacy methods or doing something kind for their neighbor, and they are bringing that story to life on social media," she explained.

At 78 years old, the pope is an unlikely⁴ figure for social media inspiration⁵. He does not own a computer or watch TV, but he tweets in nine different languages.

Local Catholic² Laura Roland was inspired by the pope’s example to go on social media.

“The Twittersphere has blown up with all things Francis," she said.

Roland had walked by a statue of Jesus as a homeless person outside Catholic Charities in Washington many times, and it made her think more deeply about the pope’s call.

“When I heard about the Walk with Francis pledge, I thought,'You know he is really calling me to practice what I say I profess'," she explained.

1 pope   

n.（罗马天主教的）教皇

参考例句：

• The Pope is the spiritual leader of many Christians.教皇是众多基督徒的宗教领袖。
• The Pope is the supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church.教皇是罗马天主教的最高领袖。

2 catholic   

adj.天主教的；n.天主教徒

参考例句：

• The Pope is the supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church.教皇是罗马天主教的最高领袖。
• She was a devoutly Catholic.她是一个虔诚地天主教徒。

3 pledge   

n.保证，誓言，抵押，抵押品；vt.保证，誓言，举杯祝...健康

参考例句：

• Take this ring as a pledge of our friendship.收下这枚戒指当作我们友谊的信物。
• The old man is willing to pledge for him.那位老人愿意为他担保。

4 unlikely   

adj.未必的，多半不可能的；不大可能发生的

参考例句：

• It was very unlikely that he would do that.他不见得会做那种事。
• It is unlikely that she will come. 她不大可能来了。

5 inspiration   

n.灵感，鼓励者，吸气

参考例句：

• These events provided the inspiration for his first novel.这些事件给了他创作第一部小说的灵感。
• What an inspiration she was to all around her!她对于她周围所有的人是一种多么大的鼓舞！