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Bush Heading for Home After a Week Abroad

Aired May 28, 2002 - 12:13   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Within the past hour, President Bush boarded Air Force One, and he's now aimed westward and headed for home. Mr. Bush, completing a weeklong trip to Russia and Europe, which ended today with two big events.

CNN's John King is back on the ground in Rome to fill us in on the first of the president's meetings with the pope. How did it go, John? I know there was a lot of suspense leading up to what was going to be said.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Some suspense leading up.

Carol, this was the second meeting between President Bush and Pope John Paul II in ten months. The last one was in July at the pope's summer retreat. So the first time for President Bush meeting the pope in the Vatican.

Mr. Bush said early this morning that he would indirectly bring up the sex scandal rocking the Catholic Church back in the United States. Aides had said before the trip he would not, but we now are told by White House officials that the president did indirectly bring it up. By that, I mean the president never specifically raised any of the allegations of sex abuse, we are told. But we are told he told Pope John Paul II he was concerned about the church's standing in the United States and that he viewed the church as a critically important not only religious, but civic institution in the United States.

And we are told the president applauded the pope for what he called his leadership in trying to restore the integrity and strength in the Catholic Church in America. That, of course, a reference to the pope's decision last month to bring U.S. cardinals here to the Vatican to urge them to adopt a new strategy, tougher guidelines, when it comes to sex abuse allegations by priests.

So Mr. Bush, his second meeting in 10 months with Pope John Paul II. At the close of the meeting, the pope said, "God bless America," as the president prepared to head home. And we are told by U.S. officials, Carol, the pope has voiced some interest in coming to the United States and visiting the ground zero site up in New York City. And we also are told the U.S. delegation, while the president was here, made clear to the Vatican that the pope would be more than welcome -- Carol.

LIN: John, also another big meeting in Rome and a big day for Russia. Tell us about that.

KING: A remarkable day for Russia and the NATO alliance, the NATO alliance formed after World War II. The deal at the time with concerns among the allies, the United States and its European allies, about the Soviet Union. That perhaps the Soviet Union would want to become the aggressor and march across Europe after the Nazis were defeated.

Well today, President Vladimir Putin, now of Russia. The Soviet Union is no more. President Putin, sitting at the table with the 19 heads of state who make up the transatlantic alliance, signing a new partnership agreement. Russia not a full partner in NATO. It does not have a vote on the North Atlantic Council, which is the board that determines whether NATO launches into military actions. But Russia will cooperate with the war on terrorism, will cooperate in discussions about weapons proliferation.

Former rivals making peace with each other, if you will, in an official way. After the signing of the document, President Putin taking his place for the class photo, standing next to the president of the United States. Again, flanked by the leaders of nations who formed the NATO alliance out of concerns for Moscow.

Now Moscow considered a friend. The challenge, all of the leaders here saying now, retooling their militaries, retooling the philosophy of the NATO alliance to fight a global war on terrorism -- Carol.

LIN: All right. Thank you very much. John King, reporting live in Rome.

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