El Papa lanza maratón bíblico

Durante siete días 1.300 personas se turnan para leer la Biblia en la Basílica de la Santa Cruz de Jerusalén en Roma.

Pope in bible reading marathon

Pope Benedict read the opening words of the book of Genesis live from his apartments in the Vatican at the start of a week-long Bible reading marathon on Italian television.

David Willey reports:

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The Pope began this seven day non-stop Bible marathon by reading the story of the creation.

He wants Catholics to return to reading the Bible and feels that the scriptures are being neglected in the modern world. A Russian Orthodox prelate took over the Bible reading from the Pope after a few minutes and then it was the turn of an Italian Protestant leader who read with great emphasis the story of Adam and Eve being expelled from the Garden of Eden. One of Italy's most popular actors Roberto Benigni took over to read the story of Cain and Abel. The Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli sang Bach during the first interlude.

Rome's Chief Rabbi had originally been scheduled to read immediately after the Pope but he pulled out after complaining that the event had become, in his words, 'too Catholic'.

The television broadcast of the Bible will continue all week, day and night, on a satellite educational channel. Earlier in the day the Pope opened a synod of Catholic bishops from around the world who will be debating how to give a better knowledge of the Bible to Catholics. In his homily the Pope attacked the godless character of modern culture.

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seven day non-stop Bible marathon
un maratón de lectura de la Biblia sin interrupciones por siete días

the story of the creation
la historia de la creación

the scriptures are being neglected in the modern world
las escrituras han sido olvidadas en el mundo moderno

Russian Orthodox prelate
'prelate' es un prelado o persona de alto rango en la Iglesia, como cardenal u obispo, en este caso un prelado ortodoxo ruso

with great emphasis
con mucho énfasis

expelled
(Adán y Eva que fueron) expulsados (del Paraíso)

Chief Rabbi
el Gran Rabino (de Roma)

pulled out
se retiró

homily
una homilía o un sermón

godless character of modern culture
el carácter irreligioso de la cultura moderna

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