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CNN Live Saturday

Pope John Paul II Visits Ukraine

Aired June 23, 2001 - 15:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Pope John Paul II arrived in the Ukraine today, and he's there to try and reconcile differences between Catholics and the Orthodox church. He also greeted the Catholic community, cheering them for fighting decades of oppression. CNN's Jill Dougherty has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As Father Boris Gudziak ministers to students at the Lviv Theological Academy, he knows what Ukrainian Greek Catholics went through in order to maintain their faith. In 1946, the church was outlawed by Stalin. Priests were arrested and murdered, some were tortured. In Pope John Paul II, he hopes to hear a voice for those who have suffered.

FATHER BORIS GUDZIAK, PRIEST: For half-a-century, they've been waiting for this encounter of the friend that spoke about their hardships when much of the world ignored their trials.

DOUGHERTY: Father Boris got his wish.

POPE JOHN PAUL II (through translator): What an immense burden of suffering you have had to endure in years past.

DOUGHERTY: For Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, the pope's visit couldn't have come at a better time. Mr. Kuchma, accused by his opponents of corruption, has weathered a major political crisis and still faces calls for his impeachment. But in an exclusive interview with CNN, President Kuchma denied he invited the pope to Ukraine out of political expediency.

PRESIDENT LEONID KUCHMA, UKRAINE (through translator): I truly think this visit is crucial. He is a saint, and he will be beatified some day. He has spoken out strongly against totalitarianism, disparity between rich and poor, and he places spiritual values above material values.

DOUGHERTY: For Mr. Kuchma's political foes, the pope's visit is a chance to gain publicity for their cause. They have petitioned John Paul II not to give any support to President Kuchma.

YULIA TIMOSHENKO, UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION MEMBER (through translator): If we hear from the mouth of the pope words of support for Kuchma, either as president or personally, it will be catastrophe for Ukraine, because it will stabilize the power of corruption, the shadow economy, economic clans and chaos.

DOUGHERTY (on camera): The pope did deliver a message to Ukraine's political elite. Without naming names, he urged them to serve the people and to avoid the temptation of exploiting power for personal or group interests.

Jill Dougherty, CNN, Kiev, Ukraine

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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