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CNN Live At Daybreak
Breaking News: Pope's Health Worsens
Aired April 01, 2005 - 06:29 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.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: And we are following breaking news. Pope John Paul II is said to be in grave condition this morning, but wants to stay at the Vatican. Meanwhile, the faithful are praying the holy father will not suffer. We will go live to Rome for more on the pontiff's worsening health and take a look at what could come next.
It is Friday, April 1. And you are watching DAYBREAK.
And good Friday morning to you. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Kelly Wallace, in today for Carol Costello.
And now right to our breaking news, an update on the failing health of Pope John Paul II. We want to go right to our Vatican analyst, John Allan, and CNN's Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci in Rome.
Alessio, let me begin with you. Many of our viewers saw this statement coming from Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the Vatican spokesman, about an hour ago. Dr. Navarro-Valls seemed very emotional. Did you take that as well?
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Absolutely, Kelly. I was surprised about how Navarro-Valls, who is usually a very poised and composed man who really means his words, he's a man who doesn't like to really speak to the press that much, although he is, after all, a Vatican spokesman, really with tears in his eyes as he was giving us the update of the pope.
But primarily because, of course, the main message out of this news conference this morning was that Pope John Paul II is indeed alive, and he is indeed conscious. This despite wide speculation, especially in the Italian media here, that the pope was not only -- that the pope was in a coma or even perhaps dead.
The Vatican spokesman telling reporters that the pope was lucid, that while the situation continues to remain extremely serious, especially because his blood pressure is unstable, the pope remains conscious.
This morning, he has met several Vatican officials, top cardinals, including Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who is the No. 2 in the Vatican government, if you want. He also participated in a mass with his closest aides.
So, this is certainly a pope who remains lucid and remains able to communicate with his aides. And by no means, despite the fact that throughout the night and even this morning when we were receiving really bad information or distressing information that the pope was really not conscious, we do know now, according to what the Vatican is telling us, that the pope is indeed alive, and he is conscious.
WALLACE: And it's pretty significant, John, when Dr. Navarro- Valls said at that news conference an hour ago -- quote, "I have never seen him like this before in 26 years."
JOHN ALLEN, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: Yes. You know, I think one of the striking things about that news conference, Kelly, you know, we in the press corps have been complaining for some time about the lack of information from the Vatican. And even when we do get information, we've been complaining about the spin sometimes that seems to be there, that the delivered attempt to play down or minimize the seriousness of the situation.
I think what we got this morning, or early this afternoon Rome time, was something close to the unvarnished truth, which is that Dr. Navarro-Valls, obviously a very close intimate aide of the pope over more than 20 years, was telling us that this man that he obviously loves is potentially quite near death.
Now, we need to add as soon as we say that, of course, that one cannot predict the future. That as Alessio said quite rightly, he continues to be lucid, conscious. His condition, Dr. Navarro-Valls said, is relatively stable. Obviously there continues to be hope for a recovery.
But at the same time, the note definitely struck in this press conference was that things are pretty serious.
I would add to that one other way to read the tea leaves from that press conference is that Dr. Navarro-Valls said that the Holy See press office would remain open all nigh tonight. That's a very extraordinary move. We're talking about a press office that normally closed at 3:00 in the afternoon. That, too, is a signal that they are expecting that something dramatic could happen.
WALLACE: And, Alessio, what is happening on the ground there around the Vatican? I imagine there is an expectation that thousands and thousands of pilgrims could flock to St. Peter's Square.
VINCI: I would say for the time being, just in the high hundreds, Kelly. We're seeing still a constant stream of pilgrims, who are primarily tourists who already were here in Rome. And clearly, I've heard in the Italian media that the pope's condition is bad. And therefore, they may have come here -- they would have come here perhaps anyway, because, of course, people come here, and the Vatican is one of the main tourist attractions.
We have not seen the tens of thousands of pilgrims that we normally see coming to St. Peter's Square, when and if the pope will die.
So, there's certainly a lot of interest, a lot of curiosity, of course, among pilgrims, and tourists especially, but certainly not the kind of storm of people, especially Romans, are here in St. Peter's Square at this time.
I can also tell you, of course, that this area has been completely taken over by the media itself. I mean, I can see around myself literally hundreds and hundreds of television cameras. So, certainly there's a lot of chaos here.
You can see behind me portions of the Via della Conciliazione, which is the main road leading up to the Vatican, has been blocked to regular traffic. Only a few tourist buses can go through.
So, certainly there is a situation of extraordinary chaos, if you want, but at the same time, we are not witnessing many Romans especially, people who would normally come here to pay their last respects to a pope who would be dead.
WALLACE: OK, Alessio and John, we're going to leave it there now. We know that you will be on "AMERICAN MORNING" in just about 20 minutes from now. CNN's Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci and our Vatican analyst, John Allen. We thank you very much.
There are an estimated one billion Roman Catholics in the world, and many of them are sending prayers of healing on this day. In New York, one vigil is at St. Patrick's Cathedral, where a woman calls the pope -- quote -- "a very special man, not only for the church but for the world."
In Mexico City, the bishops say the traveling pope is ready to take the most important trip of his pontificate, the trip to the home of the Holy Father.
In Vatican City, parishioners of the Polish church are also offering prayers for the holy father.
And in Australia, the faithful gather at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, where the bishop calls Pope John Paul II one of the great men of our time.
Well, it is time to check in with CNN's Carol Costello for a look at she and Bill Hemmer will be working on, on "AMERICAN MORNING."
Good morning to you -- Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Kelly. And I bet you can guess.
WALLACE: I think we can guess.
COSTELLO: We are (UNINTELLIGIBLE), so we're keeping a close watch on the breaking news out of Rome this morning. Kelly, as you've been reporting, the pope's condition has worsened. He's lucid but remains in very serious condition. His blood pressure is unstable. If he cannot recover, who is his likely successor? We're going to put that question to our Vatican experts.
Also, a lot of bitterness remains even after Terri Schiavo's death. Are the legal battles over yet? We'll talk to attorneys for both her parents and her husband.
We're busy this morning, Kelly. Back to you.
WALLACE: A lot of tough news this morning, Carol. All right, we'll see you in about 20 minutes. Thanks so much.
And we, of course, are continuing to monitor the medical condition of Pope John Paul II this morning. Straight ahead, we will show you who carries on the work for the pontiff when he is unable to do it himself.
Before that, though, here's a look at what else is making news this Friday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: And time now once again for a little "Business Buzz." Plenty of problems at Blockbuster Video.
Carrie Lee joins us now with news of job cuts at the company?
CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Twenty percent of the company's employees, 200 to 300 people at the company's Dallas headquarters are now going to be losing their jobs. That's the total number of positions that they are not going to be continuing.
And they're cutting costs in light of the $70 million they plan to spend to boost their online rental service to compete with Netflix. Also, the "New York Post" is reporting that Blockbuster's chief executive officer was paid $7 million in salary and bonuses last year as well as stock options that could be worth over $40 million; this, as Blockbuster's stock fell nearly 50 percent last year, and the company lost over a billion dollars.
Kelly, there really doesn't seem to be much correlation between what CEOs earn and the company's success on Wall Street.
WALLACE: And also, I was going to say, workers at Blockbuster are probably not so happy with this news, I'm sure.
LEE: Absolutely not, I'm sure.
WALLACE: All right. A quick look at the markets, futures today.
LEE: Looking very strong for this first trading day of the second quarter. The bulls will be happy to hear that, because the Dow and the Nasdaq are both down over 2 percent -- I'm sorry. The Dow and S&P are down over 2 percent. The Nasdaq down over 8 percent during Q1.
The big jobs report is coming out at 8:30 Eastern. That could give us some direction. And BestBuy, the electronics maker, is coming out with -- electronic retailer, rather, is coming out with profits today. So, keep an eye on that clock.
WALLACE: Quickly, any expectations, the jobs report? I mean, do economists expect good news or...
LEE: We do expect to add about 220,000 jobs. Not bad. But we added 262,000 in the prior month. So, it would be a dip. The unemployment rate is expected to tick down a little bit to 5.3 percent.
WALLACE: Carrie Lee, thank you so much. Have a great weekend.
LEE: My pleasure. You, too.
WALLACE: And much more ahead here on DAYBREAK, including a look inside the Vatican. We will see which cardinals are exerting influence while the pope is in poor health, and also what goes on behind the scenes. Much more ahead. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: And your news, money, weather and sports. It's about 45 minutes after the hour. And here is what is all new this morning.
Pope John Paul II takes a turn for the worse. He suffered a cardio-circulatory collapse earlier today. Just about an hour ago, a Vatican official said the pontiff is conscious and has been speaking with those around him.
An autopsy on Terri Schiavo may determine the extent of her brain damage. Following that, Michael Schiavo intends to have her cremated and buried in Pennsylvania.
In money, oh, oh, oh, the embarrassment. Recall notices are going out for more than a million Mercedes automobiles worldwide. Plagued by quality glitches, the recall includes 2000 to 2005 model years.
In culture, Ted Koppel is hanging it up at ABC. The 42-year veteran newsman says he'll retire next December after 25 years posting "Nightline."
And in sports, the Indiana Pacers scored a 114-108 overtime victory over Miami. It is the Pacers' third straight OT win over the Heat.
To the weather center.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WALLACE: Well, still to come here, the final "Star Wars" movie doesn't hit theaters until May. But you won't have to wait that long to get a piece of the action. We'll explain when DAYBREAK returns. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: It's time now to check in with CNN's Bill Hemmer for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."
And, Bill, I know you are watching the situation with the pope very closely.
HEMMER: Yes, two big stories happening again today, Kelly. Good morning to you. We're watching the Vatican today, saying that the pope's condition is very grave, yet he is conscious. He is lucid. His blood pressure, though, is unstable. So, we'll talk to Sanjay about what all of this means medically. We have a team of analysts and correspondents throughout Vatican City. Also, we'll reflect on what's happening here in the American church, too, with this situation with Pope John Paul II.
The other big story, Kelly, is this ongoing family feud. Even a day after Terri Schiavo's death, some of the people closest to Michael Schiavo, including the brother of his fiance, will be our guest this morning. And we'll also hear from the Schindler family's supporter. That story continues on the day after Terri's death. And in a sense, it is not continuing in a good way with such a public feud that continues today. So, we'll get to it, about eight minutes away here on a Friday morning -- Kelly.
WALLACE: OK, Bill, thanks so much. We look forward to seeing you then.
It is about 53 minutes after the hour, and here is what will be making news on this Friday.
Depend on CNN to follow the pope's deteriorating health. The latest from the Vatican, as Bill was talking about, is that the Roman Catholic leader is -- quote -- "lucid, conscious and serene, but also in very grave condition."
One day after the death of Terri Schiavo, news is now centered on an autopsy being performed to determine the extent of her brain damage.
Also in the news on this day, the organization that hands out the Oscars is suing ticket brokers for allegedly selling passes to February's ceremonies without permission.
And from a galaxy far, far away, new "Star Wars" toys will be coming to a toy store near you at midnight tonight. That is big news for you and your kids.
Well, as we've been talking about, the pope's health all morning long. It has been an issue for quite a few years. But as his condition worsens now, who behind the scenes is stepping in to fill the void?
CNN's Jim Bittermann reports from Vatican City.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Much of what the Catholic Church does happens far from Pope John Paul's Vatican office. Most all of it takes place without the slightest sign of papal intervention. An army of more than 4,500 priests and 4,700 bishops knows what must be done to carry on the work of the pope, whether or not he's there to urge them on or restrain them. And so, unlike a corporation or a government, the Catholic Church does not immediately spin out of control if the chair of St. Peter is empty.
ULRICH ESSER, GEGORIAN UNIV. SEMINARIAN: The church is more than 2,000 years old. So, two weeks without the holy father, that can (UNINTELLIGIBLE) nothing.
BITTERMANN: With or without the pope, the Catholic universities go on training up young theologians.
Even at the top of the hierarchy in the dicasteries, the Vatican equivalent of government ministries, the bureaucratic work grinds on.
But the decline in John Paul's health has meant more and more power going to those at the top; three men in particular.
Italian-born Angelo Sudano, the secretary of state, is essentially the Vatican's prime minister. With the pope no longer able to carry out even ceremonial duties, Cardinal Sudano has become the point man, especially in the area of foreign affairs.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a German, is in charge of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the church institution most responsible for enforcing church teachings. His writings have sometimes been more doctrinaire than the pope.
And with a lower rank but not less power, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, the pope's personal secretary for 40 years. He has always been at John Paul's side. And now that the pope is ailing, he is the go-to person for the pope's signature and thought to be the one who has final say on the pope's medical treatment.
But the three are just first among equals. Other cardinals have their own individual powers. Only John Paul can give them orders.
(on camera): Over the years, the pope has delegated more and more responsibility to his top churchmen, and sometimes there are disputes among them. But without the pope in place, there is no one to resolve them.
(voice over): And some say therein lies the real problem with an extended papal illness.
REV. KEITH PECKLERS, PROFESSOR, GREGORIAN UNIV.: What happens down the road if we have a pope, for example, who can no longer speak, who can no longer be seen in public, for example? And then now, we're going to have to face some serious questions.
BITTERMANN: Not the least among them, how to maintain the coherence and cohesion of a church with no single person in charge?
Jim Bittermann, CNN, Vatican City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: And this is DAYBREAK for a Friday morning. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And good morning, Kelly. Good morning, everybody. It's time to give away the DAYBREAK coffee mug for today.
WALLACE: Yes.
MYERS: The winner from yesterday, with Arizona and Afghanistan as the answers, Tanya Scott, Moscow, Pennsylvania. It is on the way to PA today.
Now, if you've been waiting patiently, here are you questions. What is the name of Jessica Alba's and Bruce Willis' new film? And what monument reopens today? That's easy.
CNN.com/daybreak. Put your answers in there, and have a great weekend.
WALLACE: Chad, you do the same. It's good to be with you this week.
MYERS: Stay dry.
WALLACE: Carol is back on Monday. For all of us here, I'm Kelly Wallace, in today for Carol Costello. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
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Aired April 1, 2005 - 06:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: And we are following breaking news. Pope John Paul II is said to be in grave condition this morning, but wants to stay at the Vatican. Meanwhile, the faithful are praying the holy father will not suffer. We will go live to Rome for more on the pontiff's worsening health and take a look at what could come next.
It is Friday, April 1. And you are watching DAYBREAK.
And good Friday morning to you. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Kelly Wallace, in today for Carol Costello.
And now right to our breaking news, an update on the failing health of Pope John Paul II. We want to go right to our Vatican analyst, John Allan, and CNN's Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci in Rome.
Alessio, let me begin with you. Many of our viewers saw this statement coming from Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the Vatican spokesman, about an hour ago. Dr. Navarro-Valls seemed very emotional. Did you take that as well?
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Absolutely, Kelly. I was surprised about how Navarro-Valls, who is usually a very poised and composed man who really means his words, he's a man who doesn't like to really speak to the press that much, although he is, after all, a Vatican spokesman, really with tears in his eyes as he was giving us the update of the pope.
But primarily because, of course, the main message out of this news conference this morning was that Pope John Paul II is indeed alive, and he is indeed conscious. This despite wide speculation, especially in the Italian media here, that the pope was not only -- that the pope was in a coma or even perhaps dead.
The Vatican spokesman telling reporters that the pope was lucid, that while the situation continues to remain extremely serious, especially because his blood pressure is unstable, the pope remains conscious.
This morning, he has met several Vatican officials, top cardinals, including Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who is the No. 2 in the Vatican government, if you want. He also participated in a mass with his closest aides.
So, this is certainly a pope who remains lucid and remains able to communicate with his aides. And by no means, despite the fact that throughout the night and even this morning when we were receiving really bad information or distressing information that the pope was really not conscious, we do know now, according to what the Vatican is telling us, that the pope is indeed alive, and he is conscious.
WALLACE: And it's pretty significant, John, when Dr. Navarro- Valls said at that news conference an hour ago -- quote, "I have never seen him like this before in 26 years."
JOHN ALLEN, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: Yes. You know, I think one of the striking things about that news conference, Kelly, you know, we in the press corps have been complaining for some time about the lack of information from the Vatican. And even when we do get information, we've been complaining about the spin sometimes that seems to be there, that the delivered attempt to play down or minimize the seriousness of the situation.
I think what we got this morning, or early this afternoon Rome time, was something close to the unvarnished truth, which is that Dr. Navarro-Valls, obviously a very close intimate aide of the pope over more than 20 years, was telling us that this man that he obviously loves is potentially quite near death.
Now, we need to add as soon as we say that, of course, that one cannot predict the future. That as Alessio said quite rightly, he continues to be lucid, conscious. His condition, Dr. Navarro-Valls said, is relatively stable. Obviously there continues to be hope for a recovery.
But at the same time, the note definitely struck in this press conference was that things are pretty serious.
I would add to that one other way to read the tea leaves from that press conference is that Dr. Navarro-Valls said that the Holy See press office would remain open all nigh tonight. That's a very extraordinary move. We're talking about a press office that normally closed at 3:00 in the afternoon. That, too, is a signal that they are expecting that something dramatic could happen.
WALLACE: And, Alessio, what is happening on the ground there around the Vatican? I imagine there is an expectation that thousands and thousands of pilgrims could flock to St. Peter's Square.
VINCI: I would say for the time being, just in the high hundreds, Kelly. We're seeing still a constant stream of pilgrims, who are primarily tourists who already were here in Rome. And clearly, I've heard in the Italian media that the pope's condition is bad. And therefore, they may have come here -- they would have come here perhaps anyway, because, of course, people come here, and the Vatican is one of the main tourist attractions.
We have not seen the tens of thousands of pilgrims that we normally see coming to St. Peter's Square, when and if the pope will die.
So, there's certainly a lot of interest, a lot of curiosity, of course, among pilgrims, and tourists especially, but certainly not the kind of storm of people, especially Romans, are here in St. Peter's Square at this time.
I can also tell you, of course, that this area has been completely taken over by the media itself. I mean, I can see around myself literally hundreds and hundreds of television cameras. So, certainly there's a lot of chaos here.
You can see behind me portions of the Via della Conciliazione, which is the main road leading up to the Vatican, has been blocked to regular traffic. Only a few tourist buses can go through.
So, certainly there is a situation of extraordinary chaos, if you want, but at the same time, we are not witnessing many Romans especially, people who would normally come here to pay their last respects to a pope who would be dead.
WALLACE: OK, Alessio and John, we're going to leave it there now. We know that you will be on "AMERICAN MORNING" in just about 20 minutes from now. CNN's Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci and our Vatican analyst, John Allen. We thank you very much.
There are an estimated one billion Roman Catholics in the world, and many of them are sending prayers of healing on this day. In New York, one vigil is at St. Patrick's Cathedral, where a woman calls the pope -- quote -- "a very special man, not only for the church but for the world."
In Mexico City, the bishops say the traveling pope is ready to take the most important trip of his pontificate, the trip to the home of the Holy Father.
In Vatican City, parishioners of the Polish church are also offering prayers for the holy father.
And in Australia, the faithful gather at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, where the bishop calls Pope John Paul II one of the great men of our time.
Well, it is time to check in with CNN's Carol Costello for a look at she and Bill Hemmer will be working on, on "AMERICAN MORNING."
Good morning to you -- Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Kelly. And I bet you can guess.
WALLACE: I think we can guess.
COSTELLO: We are (UNINTELLIGIBLE), so we're keeping a close watch on the breaking news out of Rome this morning. Kelly, as you've been reporting, the pope's condition has worsened. He's lucid but remains in very serious condition. His blood pressure is unstable. If he cannot recover, who is his likely successor? We're going to put that question to our Vatican experts.
Also, a lot of bitterness remains even after Terri Schiavo's death. Are the legal battles over yet? We'll talk to attorneys for both her parents and her husband.
We're busy this morning, Kelly. Back to you.
WALLACE: A lot of tough news this morning, Carol. All right, we'll see you in about 20 minutes. Thanks so much.
And we, of course, are continuing to monitor the medical condition of Pope John Paul II this morning. Straight ahead, we will show you who carries on the work for the pontiff when he is unable to do it himself.
Before that, though, here's a look at what else is making news this Friday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: And time now once again for a little "Business Buzz." Plenty of problems at Blockbuster Video.
Carrie Lee joins us now with news of job cuts at the company?
CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Twenty percent of the company's employees, 200 to 300 people at the company's Dallas headquarters are now going to be losing their jobs. That's the total number of positions that they are not going to be continuing.
And they're cutting costs in light of the $70 million they plan to spend to boost their online rental service to compete with Netflix. Also, the "New York Post" is reporting that Blockbuster's chief executive officer was paid $7 million in salary and bonuses last year as well as stock options that could be worth over $40 million; this, as Blockbuster's stock fell nearly 50 percent last year, and the company lost over a billion dollars.
Kelly, there really doesn't seem to be much correlation between what CEOs earn and the company's success on Wall Street.
WALLACE: And also, I was going to say, workers at Blockbuster are probably not so happy with this news, I'm sure.
LEE: Absolutely not, I'm sure.
WALLACE: All right. A quick look at the markets, futures today.
LEE: Looking very strong for this first trading day of the second quarter. The bulls will be happy to hear that, because the Dow and the Nasdaq are both down over 2 percent -- I'm sorry. The Dow and S&P are down over 2 percent. The Nasdaq down over 8 percent during Q1.
The big jobs report is coming out at 8:30 Eastern. That could give us some direction. And BestBuy, the electronics maker, is coming out with -- electronic retailer, rather, is coming out with profits today. So, keep an eye on that clock.
WALLACE: Quickly, any expectations, the jobs report? I mean, do economists expect good news or...
LEE: We do expect to add about 220,000 jobs. Not bad. But we added 262,000 in the prior month. So, it would be a dip. The unemployment rate is expected to tick down a little bit to 5.3 percent.
WALLACE: Carrie Lee, thank you so much. Have a great weekend.
LEE: My pleasure. You, too.
WALLACE: And much more ahead here on DAYBREAK, including a look inside the Vatican. We will see which cardinals are exerting influence while the pope is in poor health, and also what goes on behind the scenes. Much more ahead. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: And your news, money, weather and sports. It's about 45 minutes after the hour. And here is what is all new this morning.
Pope John Paul II takes a turn for the worse. He suffered a cardio-circulatory collapse earlier today. Just about an hour ago, a Vatican official said the pontiff is conscious and has been speaking with those around him.
An autopsy on Terri Schiavo may determine the extent of her brain damage. Following that, Michael Schiavo intends to have her cremated and buried in Pennsylvania.
In money, oh, oh, oh, the embarrassment. Recall notices are going out for more than a million Mercedes automobiles worldwide. Plagued by quality glitches, the recall includes 2000 to 2005 model years.
In culture, Ted Koppel is hanging it up at ABC. The 42-year veteran newsman says he'll retire next December after 25 years posting "Nightline."
And in sports, the Indiana Pacers scored a 114-108 overtime victory over Miami. It is the Pacers' third straight OT win over the Heat.
To the weather center.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WALLACE: Well, still to come here, the final "Star Wars" movie doesn't hit theaters until May. But you won't have to wait that long to get a piece of the action. We'll explain when DAYBREAK returns. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: It's time now to check in with CNN's Bill Hemmer for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."
And, Bill, I know you are watching the situation with the pope very closely.
HEMMER: Yes, two big stories happening again today, Kelly. Good morning to you. We're watching the Vatican today, saying that the pope's condition is very grave, yet he is conscious. He is lucid. His blood pressure, though, is unstable. So, we'll talk to Sanjay about what all of this means medically. We have a team of analysts and correspondents throughout Vatican City. Also, we'll reflect on what's happening here in the American church, too, with this situation with Pope John Paul II.
The other big story, Kelly, is this ongoing family feud. Even a day after Terri Schiavo's death, some of the people closest to Michael Schiavo, including the brother of his fiance, will be our guest this morning. And we'll also hear from the Schindler family's supporter. That story continues on the day after Terri's death. And in a sense, it is not continuing in a good way with such a public feud that continues today. So, we'll get to it, about eight minutes away here on a Friday morning -- Kelly.
WALLACE: OK, Bill, thanks so much. We look forward to seeing you then.
It is about 53 minutes after the hour, and here is what will be making news on this Friday.
Depend on CNN to follow the pope's deteriorating health. The latest from the Vatican, as Bill was talking about, is that the Roman Catholic leader is -- quote -- "lucid, conscious and serene, but also in very grave condition."
One day after the death of Terri Schiavo, news is now centered on an autopsy being performed to determine the extent of her brain damage.
Also in the news on this day, the organization that hands out the Oscars is suing ticket brokers for allegedly selling passes to February's ceremonies without permission.
And from a galaxy far, far away, new "Star Wars" toys will be coming to a toy store near you at midnight tonight. That is big news for you and your kids.
Well, as we've been talking about, the pope's health all morning long. It has been an issue for quite a few years. But as his condition worsens now, who behind the scenes is stepping in to fill the void?
CNN's Jim Bittermann reports from Vatican City.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Much of what the Catholic Church does happens far from Pope John Paul's Vatican office. Most all of it takes place without the slightest sign of papal intervention. An army of more than 4,500 priests and 4,700 bishops knows what must be done to carry on the work of the pope, whether or not he's there to urge them on or restrain them. And so, unlike a corporation or a government, the Catholic Church does not immediately spin out of control if the chair of St. Peter is empty.
ULRICH ESSER, GEGORIAN UNIV. SEMINARIAN: The church is more than 2,000 years old. So, two weeks without the holy father, that can (UNINTELLIGIBLE) nothing.
BITTERMANN: With or without the pope, the Catholic universities go on training up young theologians.
Even at the top of the hierarchy in the dicasteries, the Vatican equivalent of government ministries, the bureaucratic work grinds on.
But the decline in John Paul's health has meant more and more power going to those at the top; three men in particular.
Italian-born Angelo Sudano, the secretary of state, is essentially the Vatican's prime minister. With the pope no longer able to carry out even ceremonial duties, Cardinal Sudano has become the point man, especially in the area of foreign affairs.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a German, is in charge of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the church institution most responsible for enforcing church teachings. His writings have sometimes been more doctrinaire than the pope.
And with a lower rank but not less power, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, the pope's personal secretary for 40 years. He has always been at John Paul's side. And now that the pope is ailing, he is the go-to person for the pope's signature and thought to be the one who has final say on the pope's medical treatment.
But the three are just first among equals. Other cardinals have their own individual powers. Only John Paul can give them orders.
(on camera): Over the years, the pope has delegated more and more responsibility to his top churchmen, and sometimes there are disputes among them. But without the pope in place, there is no one to resolve them.
(voice over): And some say therein lies the real problem with an extended papal illness.
REV. KEITH PECKLERS, PROFESSOR, GREGORIAN UNIV.: What happens down the road if we have a pope, for example, who can no longer speak, who can no longer be seen in public, for example? And then now, we're going to have to face some serious questions.
BITTERMANN: Not the least among them, how to maintain the coherence and cohesion of a church with no single person in charge?
Jim Bittermann, CNN, Vatican City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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