VOA慢速英语:Pope Benedict Says Goodbye as Leader of the Worldwide Roman Catholic Church

Pope Benedict gave his last public blessing this week to tens of thousands of people in Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican, the church’s administrative center. The resignation of the leader of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church took effect Thursday.
本周，教皇本笃十六世在教会行政中心，梵蒂冈的圣彼特广场向成千上万的人们发表最后一次公开讲道，这位全世界罗马天主教堂的领导者的辞呈于周四生效。

On Wednesday, the 85-year-old leader took one final ride through the square in his open vehicle. He stopped at times to bless a baby. Later he told the crowd that he has been through some moments that were “not easy.” The pope said, “To love the Church also means having the courage to take difficult decisions.” Some observers said the comment was a reply to his surprising decision to resign.
上周三，85岁的老领导乘着自己的敞篷车在广场做了最后一次巡游，他停下来几次来祝福一名婴儿。随后他告诉会众自己目前正处于“艰难”时刻，教皇说，“热爱教堂也意味着要有勇气做出艰难的决定。”一些观察员称，这是对其突然辞职的解释。

Benedict recognized that his decision was not expected. He told Catholic believers that he made the move with what he called “profound serenity of spirit.” The most recent papal resignation was  almost 600 years ago, when Pope Gregory the Twelfth stepped down.
本笃十六世承认，他的决定出人意料，他告诉天主教信徒，他是以一种“深刻宁静的精神”来做出此举的。上一次罗马教皇辞职是在600年前，当时是教皇格里高利第十二辞职。

Father Thomas Rosica, the director of a Catholic television network in Canada, was among those listening to Benedict’s final address. Father Rosica says the pope’s decision to resign is a way of teaching Catholics about surrender.
神父Thomas Rosica是一所加拿大天主教电视网络负责人，他也聆听了本笃十六世的最后致辞。 Rosica神父说，教皇辞职的决定也是在教育天主教徒学会放弃。

“Pope John Paul II taught us the profound lesson of his papacy, especially in the final years, about suffering and dying. Pope Benedict has taught us another lesson. He's taught us about surrender. We don't cling to power and authority and office and privilege, when our energies are no longer there.”
“约翰•保罗二世在任职期间给了我们深刻的教训，尤其是在最后的几年中教育我们关于痛苦和死亡的道理。教皇本笃教给我们的另一个教训，他教会我们放弃。当我们力不从心时，我们不执着于权力和权威、职位和特权。”

Benedict said the Church had troubles and “stormy waters” during his eight-year leadership. But, he said God will not let the institution sink. He urged all Catholics to always put the good of the Catholic Church before their own personal desires.
本笃十六世说，教皇在他8年的任职期间遭遇困境和险境。但是他说，上帝不会让教会沉沦的。他呼吁所有天主教徒始终将基督教堂的善行置于个人的欲望之前。

The pope has had to answer accusations of corruption and sexual abuse by Catholic clergy members. He has dealt with the leak of thousands of private documents that reportedly show dishonor in the church. And, there has been a decrease in the Catholic faith within Europe.
教皇还要回答对天主教神职人员的腐败和性侵指控，教堂还泄露了数千份私密文档。据说这令教堂名誉扫地，教皇一直在处理此事。而且，目前欧洲范围内对天主教的信仰正在下降。

Before leaving on Thursday, Benedict said goodbye in private to Roman Catholic  cardinals. He urged these high-level officials to unite as they prepare to choose the next pope among their number.
在周四离职之前，教宗本笃还私下向罗马天主教枢机主教告别。他敦促这些高层官员团结一致，在成员内部选举下一任教皇。

Pope Benedict will now be called “pope emeritus” and continue to wear the white clothing he wore while serving as pope. Many people have criticized the decision to let him stay in the Vatican. They say his presence could create tension with the new ruling pope. Pope Benedict has said he plans to live quietly in prayer and meditation in his words, “hidden to the world.”  He also promised to show “unconditional reverence and obedience” to the next pope.
教皇本笃将被改称为“退休教皇”，将继续穿着任教皇期间的白色衣服。许多人批评让他留在梵蒂冈的决定，他们称这将会在新教皇之间创造矛盾。教皇本笃十六世说，他准备“隐遁独居”，安静地祈祷和冥想。他还承诺向下届教皇展现“无条件的尊敬和服从。”

The Pope left the Vatican Thursday by helicopter and arrived at his new temporary home, Castel Gandolfo, south of the Vatican. He will return to the Vatican and live in what is called a convent in a few months.
教皇将于周四离开梵蒂冈，乘坐直升机回到新的暂居地--梵蒂冈南部的岗道尔夫堡。数月后他将回到梵蒂冈，住在目前被称为修道院的地方。

In a final message on his official Twitter account, the leader of the world’s more than one billion Catholics thanked his followers for their “love and support.”  He also wrote, “May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the center of your lives.”
在他的官方微博主页上，这位全世界10亿多天主教徒的领袖向追随者的“爱和支持”表示感谢，他还写道，“愿你们永远体验到将基督放在生活中心的欢乐。”