Pope Benedict XVI ended his papacy, becoming the first pontiff in 600 years to step down. From now on, he will be known as Benedict XVI, pope emeritus.
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The landmarkresignation took effect at 8 pm on Thursday, three hours after the former pope had left Vatican City and flown to Castel Gandolfo, a summer residence on the outskirts of Rome. Over the next few days, cardinals will gather at the Vatican to plan a conclave that will elect his successor.
主教教皇本笃十六世(Benedict XVI)结束了自己的教皇生涯，成为600年来首个主动退位的教皇。从现在起，他将被称为"荣休教宗"(pope emeritus)。
The pontiff's retirement thrusts the church into uncharted waters, as the next pope will lead Roman Catholicism with his predecessor just a stone's throw away. Pope Benedict, who is a prolific writer and respected theologian, has said he doesn't expect to withdrawal completely from public life.
这个具有里程碑意义的退位于周四晚上8点正式生效，三个小时前，本笃十六世已经离开梵蒂冈，飞往罗马市郊的夏宫岗道尔夫堡(Castel Gandolfo)。接下来几天，红衣主教们将聚集在梵蒂冈，策划选举新教皇的会议。
Earlier Thursday, in Rome, the pope pledged obedience to his future successor. Meeting with cardinals for the last time inside the Apostolic Palace, Pope Benedict said he would remain with them 'in prayer' after he steps down this evening.
本笃十六世的退位使得天主教的未来难以预料，因为下一位教皇将在离其前任仅一步之遥的地方领导罗马天主教。本笃十六世同时还是一位多产作家和受人尊敬的神学家，他曾说自己并不期望完全退出公众生活。
'Among you, the College of Cardinals, is the future pope to whom I pledge today unconditional obedience and reverence,' the pope told the cardinals.
周四早些时候，本笃十六世在罗马宣誓会效忠于未来的接班人。本笃十六世在宗座宫殿(Apostolic Palace)内最后一次接见红衣主教时说，今晚退位后，自己将和他们一同祈祷。
In his last hours as pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI addressed a crowd of faithful from the balcony of his summer palace, saying that he would soon no longer be leader of the Catholic Church, rather 'a pilgrim who begins the last stop of his pilgrimage.'
本笃十六世对红衣主教说，你们是红衣主教团(College of Cardinals)成员，你们中将有一人成为日后的教皇，我现在宣誓将无条件地服从并尊敬这个人。
Greeted by a crowd of people chanting 'Benedetto, Benedetto' and waving flags, the pope thanked his supporters and said that he would continue to 'work for the good of the Church.'
在担任教皇的最后几个小时里，本笃十六世在其夏宫的阳台上向大批信众发表演讲。他说，自己很快就不再是天主教领袖，而是一名在朝圣路上开始最后一程的朝圣者。
He will return to Vatican City once renovations are complete on his future residence: a former convent inside the Vatican's medieval walls.
大批信众高喊"本笃，本笃"并挥舞旗帜，本笃十六世向支持者表示感谢，说他会继续为了天主教而工作。
'We serve the Church and all of humanity. This is our joy. No one can take that away from us,' the pope told cardinals. The so-called princes of the church then lined up to individually bid him farewell.
在他未来的住所装修完成后，本笃十六世将回到梵蒂冈。这个住所位于梵蒂冈中世纪城牆内，以前曾为修道院。
After his official resignation, the ring that bears the seal of his authority will be broken. Earlier Thursday the Vatican post office, which serves the world's smallest state, began stamping letters with a new mark: Benedictus PP. XVI Renuntiat Ministerio Petrino, indicating the pope had renounced the ministry.
本笃十六世对红衣主教说，我们为天主教和全人类服务，这是我们的福气，没人可以剥夺。随后红衣主教们排队一一与他道别。
STACY MEICHTRY
本笃十六世正式退位后，那枚代表其教皇权力的戒指将被销毁。周四早些时候，服务于全球最小国家的梵蒂冈邮局开始在邮件上盖新邮戳：Benedictus PP. XVI Renuntiat Ministerio Petrino，意为教皇已退位。
- residence [´rezidəns]
n.居住(期间)；住宅 (初中英语单词) - writer [´raitə] n.作者；作家 (初中英语单词)
- pledge [pledʒ] n.信物；誓约vt.使发誓 (初中英语单词)
- faithful [´feiθfəl] a.忠实的；可靠的 (初中英语单词)
- catholic [´kæθəlik] a.天主教 n.天主教徒 (初中英语单词)
- humanity [hju:´mæniti] n.人类；人性；仁慈 (初中英语单词)
- resignation [,rezig´neiʃən] n.辞职(书)；放弃；顺从 (高中英语单词)
- obedience [ə´bi:djəns] n.服从；顺从 (高中英语单词)
- successor [sək´sesə] n.继承人，接班人 (高中英语单词)
- saying [´seiŋ, ´sei-iŋ] n.言语；言论；格言 (高中英语单词)
- pilgrim [´pilgrim] n.旅行者；香客 (高中英语单词)
- convent [´kɔnvənt] n.女修道院；女修道会 (高中英语单词)
- so-called [´sou ´kɔ:ld] a.所谓的，号称的 (高中英语单词)
- retirement [ri´taiəmənt] n.退休；撤退；幽静处 (英语四级单词)
- predecessor [´pri:disesə] n.前任；前辈 (英语四级单词)
- balcony [´bælkəni] n.阳台；(戏院的)楼厅 (英语四级单词)
- medieval [,medi´i:vəl] a.中古的；中世纪的 (英语四级单词)
- landmark [´lændmɑ:k] n.界标；里程碑 (英语六级单词)
- outskirts [´autskə:ts] n.外边；郊区 (英语六级单词)
- individually [,indi´vidʒuəli] adv.个别地 (英语六级单词)
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