2014届高考英语一轮复习精选阅读理解文章六十篇17.docVIP

罗马红衣主教正选举下任教皇 Roman Catholic cardinals from around the world are due to meet in Rome to begin the process of electing the next Pope. 来自世界各地的天主教红衣主教将齐聚罗马选举下任教皇。 Cardinals will discuss Church matters before holding a conclave to elect a Pope ? The College of Cardinals will hold daily talks leading up to a conclave（秘密会议） in which a new Pope will be chosen. ? The election process comes after Pope Benedict XVI stepped down after nearly eight years in office leading the worlds 1.2 billion Roman Catholics. ? He was the first pontiff（主教，教皇） to resign in 600 years. ? The first pre-conclave meeting on Monday morning is to be headed by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano.? ?Cardinals - known as the princes of the Church - will discuss future challenges to the Church and discreetly weigh up possible papal candidates. ? The conclave - to be held in the Sistine Chapel - is expected to take place next week. ? Correspondents say the 115 cardinal electors, those under the age of 80 who will take part in the conclave, will want the new Pope to be officially installed in time to preside over Holy Week. ? Ceremonies start with Palm Sunday on 24 March and culminate in Easter the following Sunday. ? The BBCs David Willey in Rome says strict precautions against leaks of unauthorised information will be in operation at the Vatican until the next Pope has been chosen. ? Technicians will debug the cardinals lodgings and mobile phones will be banned altogether during the conclave. ? Britains formerly most senior Roman Catholic cleric, Cardinal Keith OBrien, has said he will not take part in the conclave after standing down amid allegations of improper behaviour. ? On Sunday, he admitted his sexual conduct had at times fallen beneath the standards expected of me. ? He apologised and asked forgiveness from those whom he had offended. ? Cardinal OBrien resigned as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh last Monday after three priests and a former priest made allegations