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Day Two of Mourning Period for Pope John Paul II; Courage Under Fire

Aired April 04, 2005 - 9:00   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Bill Hemmer, live in Rome Italy. Pope John Paul II, many considered him to be the people's pope. In only two hours, the people's pope will be returned to the people in St. Peter's Basilica. This special edition of live coverage in Rome continues now on this AMERICAN MORNING
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer in Rome.

HEMMER: Hello again from Rome, Italy. I'm Bill Hemmer -- 3:00 in the afternoon here, 9:00 back in New York City. We thank you for being along with us today as our coverage continues. It is now day two in the mourning period, and we have much more information as to what we can anticipate today and going through the week.

The cardinals have gotten together earlier today. And after a two-hour meeting, they announced here at the Vatican that the funeral for Pope John Paul II will take place on Friday at the end of this week at 4:00 a.m. New York time. That's 10:00 a.m. Rome time. Again, on Friday at the end of the week.

Also, the burial will take place in St. Peter's Basilica. There was some question as to whether or not this pope would be chosen to be buried in his native country of Poland. That, however, will not be the case. The announcement coming a short time ago here.

Also, the private viewing continues at this hour here in the Vatican. In about two hours from now, the pope's body will be transferred from the Apostolic Palace, where it's been for the past two days, and in a very public procession the pope's body will be carried through St. Peter's Square and back into the Church of St. Peter's, where the public viewing, the official lying in state will begin. And at that point we expect upwards of two million people to converge on this city and many thousands, hundreds of thousands, in fact, to pay their final respects to Pope John Paul II.

We're just outside Vatican City. Officially, we're in the city of Rome. But down the street here just about 500 yards is when the official -- the walls of the Vatican and the boundaries and borders begin there.

Alessio Vinci is our Rome bureau chief. And Alessio is with me now as well.

And good afternoon to you.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Hi, Bill. HEMMER: One thing that I think is quite significant that we'll see in about two hours is when they officially carry the body from one location to another. It will be back through the square, a square where the pope has spent the past 26 years of his life.

VINCI: Definitely. And a square that is already filling up with thousands of pilgrims, Bill. It's been a constant flow of people going towards there, towards Vatican City, which begins with St. Peter's Square, where Rome ends and the Vatican begins.

We expect the body to be carried through several rooms inside the Apostolic Palace, down two steps -- two floors. Of course he's on the second floor now in that palace. And then he will emerge into St. Peter's Square from what is known as the bronze door.

He -- I understand from a source inside the palace, which is actually organizing all of this or helping out organizing, that the pope will actually be taking around the square for one tour and then back into -- actually into the Basilica through the main door. There is (UNINTELLIGIBLE), where the pope will actually be laid officially in state.

As you know, the viewing has been going on for the last two days or so. It's only private. Now finally, as you mentioned correctly, the pope, the people's pope, will be returned to the people.

HEMMER: You have spent a great deal of your life in the past several years covering this man. In fact, three years ago you went with him back to his native country, Poland. We've got some -- a picture that we can show our viewers at home. What struck you about that trip that you reflect on now, Alessio?

VINCI: Well, I guess the incredible thing about that trip was everyone felt this was the last opportunity for the pope to return to Rome -- to -- sorry, to Poland. And it was an incredible thing during that trip, as it always happens when you travel with the pope on the plane.

Some reporters of given the opportunity to quickly sit down next to the pope as you fly either into the country or back from a country. But that particular trip was wonderful.

Millions of people came out on the streets of Poland to perhaps pay one last good-bye, which, in fact, was a last good-bye to the pope. But the incredible thing was, as we flew back from Krakow, back into Rome, the pilot perhaps knowing that this was one of the final trips of the pope to Poland, when he took off from the airport, instead of going up in altitude, he remained a low altitude for several minutes so the pope could get a last view of Poland.

But then the incredible thing was, as we reached the Carpathian Mountains, instead of flying straight, the pope -- the pilot tilted the plane on his left-hand side, on the side on which the pope was sitting so he could see the mountains, the Carpathian Mountains that he loved so much. And I remember his plane, you know, really tilting, the pope getting the opportunity to view that. It was really a wonderful moment.

HEMMER: Alessio, thanks. Alessio Vinci here in Rome.

Officially, it is day two, day two in the mourning period that will extend for nine days total in the Vatican. Late last night at the close of day one, we went into St. Peter's Square, trying to get better ideas as to why the people have come here, and also what feeling they have inside of St. Peter's Square.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER (voice-over): So many tell us the days are different now, the pace moving with a gentle calm. The sense of spirit growing stronger, and the crowds getting bigger.

Video screens replay highlights of a remarkable life, and you can see what that life means on the faces who gather here. They are young and they are old, and they are couples in love.

These two college students came to the Vatican twice on day one.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There are so many people in the Vatican, yet there's just this calm and this peace. The people are talking, but it's very solemn and quiet.

HEMMER: And everyone who comes here seems to have their own story about him.

REV. GERALD RUANE, NEW JERSEY: The first time I saw him I said something in Polish, not in very good Polish. So at least I got a smile. So anyway...

HEMMER (voice-over): And a good memory.

RUANE: Good memory, too.

HEMMER (voice-over): The Vatican is getting ready for a funeral, building more platforms for more TV coverage, for more people around the world to get a better view. This Canadian lives in Italy, an hour outside of Rome.

SEBASTIAN GUERCIA, PILGRIM: I saw this on TV, and I saw this look on people's eyes. I said, let me go there and see if -- you know, if it is like what it is. And now I have that look in my eyes. I feel really, really sad.

HEMMER: Many called him the people's pope, and he was Janet Bedin's pope as well. She met him just three months ago and won't forget him.

JANET BEDIN, PILGRIM: It was as if everything around you as you approached him went into slow motion. As if you are in this bubble. It was truly a holy moment.

HEMMER: There seems to be many holy moments for those who come to the Vatican. And as the first day of mourning ends, the reflection on his life is just beginning.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: We are well now into Monday afternoon, well into day two, and we expect again to see the pope in another procession through St. Peter's Square in about two hours from now. And certainly we'll be here to cover that live when it happens.

Word from the White House. We talked about this yesterday. Now confirmed that U.S. President George Bush will travel to Rome later in the week to attend the funeral that again will take place at 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time, 10:00 a.m. local time here at the Vatican on Friday morning. George Bush one of more than 100 heads of state expected in attendance for the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

More from Rome in a moment. Back to New York now. And here is Carol back there -- Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Thank you, Bill.

Let's turn to Jack now and the "Question of the Day."

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Carol.

A majority of American Catholics want change in their church, change on issues like women in the priesthood, stem cell research, those kinds of things, according to a new CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll. So the "Question of the Day" this morning is, in what direction should the next pope be taking the Catholic Church?

Our e-mail address is AM@CNN.com. We'll read some of the letters in about 20 minutes.

COSTELLO: Thanks, Jack.

A rare honor will be bestowed today, a recognition of extreme courage under fire. Army Sergeant 1st Class Paul Ray Smith will be awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. Two years ago today in Iraq, he threw himself into the line of fire and saved at least 100 of his fellow soldiers.

His wife, Birgit Smith, will be at the White House today to accept the award from President Bush. And she joins us now live.

Good morning.

BIRGIT SMITH, WILL RECEIVE MEDAL OF HONOR ON BEHALF OF HUSBAND: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Can you describe how you are feeling this morning?

SMITH: I am very nervous.

COSTELLO: Oh, I bet you are.

Let's explain the battle to people that your husband took place in, the battle in which he saved so many lives. They were defending the Iraqi airport at the time, a small band of American soldiers. This was in 2003, correct?

SMITH: Yes, ma'am.

COSTELLO: And suddenly, the Iraqi elite guard appeared, started throwing grenades at the soldiers. The Bradley fighting they had, the only vehicle to protect them, ran out of ammunition. They had one .50-caliber weapon. The man behind thereat was shot and wounded, and your husband made the split-second decision.

Tell us what it was.

SMITH: He just took over, like always, and that cost his life. He saved a lot of lives, and he gave his own for his soldiers.

COSTELLO: How long was he shooting that gun?

SMITH: I don't know the time. But I heard he went through at least 150 rounds.

COSTELLO: He's credited with saving some 100 lives. Have you -- have you heard from the wives or the soldiers that were with him that day?

SMITH: Yes, definitely. I have gotten many letters, and they thank me in those letters that their sons and husbands made it home. And they are sorry for my loss, but if Paul would not have done that day what he did, they wouldn't have made it home.

COSTELLO: Did the soldiers describe to you what your husband did that day?

SMITH: Yes, they did, but they are very careful when they talk to me because they don't want to upset me. So it is hard for them to talk to me.

COSTELLO: You said your husband was a take-charge kind of guy. Tell us about him.

SMITH: Yes. Well, he was very, very strict. And he disciplined his soldiers, and he teach (ph) them everything he knew, made them ready for the battle.

COSTELLO: Only 842 such medals of honor have been awarded since the beginning of World War II. General Douglas MacArthur once said he'd sell his soul for a medal of honor. Harry Truman said he'd rather have the medal than be president.

How would your husband have felt about this?

SMITH: Paul shied away from attention, and he's probably embarrassed right now. He never wanted to stand in the spotlight, and look what happens now.

COSTELLO: Well, your 11-year-old son and you will be standing in the spotlight with President Bush later on today. How will that feel for you and for your son?

SMITH: I think we are going to celebrate the day very much. We really want to enjoy that day. And it's such a big honor to us. So we're going to try to really enjoy that day and take every moment in.

COSTELLO: Will your memories of your husband be happy ones, poignant ones?

SMITH: Definitely. Both. Yes.

COSTELLO: Birgit Smith, thank you for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

SMITH: Thank you.

COSTELLO: And that Medal of Honor ceremony will be held today at 3:00 p.m. Eastern at the White House.

There is other news this day.

Good morning, Kelly Wallace.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Lovely interview. She is darling.

COSTELLO: Oh, I know. It really touched you when she said her husband wouldn't want this attention because he was just too modest.

WALLACE: Well, he'll be getting a lot of attention on this day. Thanks, Carol.

Good morning again, everyone. And here are some other stories "Now in the News."

President Bush expected to meet next hour with Ukraine's president, Viktor Yushchenko. A wide range of issues topping today's agenda, including weapons nonproliferation. The three-day trip comes a little over two months since the new president took office in a popular uprising known as the Orange Revolution.

Volunteers along the Arizona-Mexico border have reported the first group of illegal crossers. A group of about 20 people was hauled in Sunday to Border Patrol. For the next month, the so-called minutemen will rotate shifts around the clock to keep an eye on the Arizona-Mexico border. They are looking for illegal immigrants and smugglers. The official patrol starts today.

A team of investigators heading to southwestern Washington State to figure out what caused a train derailment. An Amtrak passenger train was heading from Chicago to Portland Sunday when its locomotive and four cars derailed. At least six people were injured, none of them seriously. The line is expected to be back up and running today.

And then there were two. Tonight, the grand finale of March Madness, when top ranked Illinois takes it on number two, North Carolina, in the championship game of the NCAA basketball tournament. It has been 30 years, 30 years, since the top two teams met in the title game. A lot of attention on that game.

We turn now back to Bill Hemmer, though, in Rome.

Hi, Bill.

HEMMER: Yes, big game tonight. Hey, Kelly, thanks for that.

It is another day of pictures, Kelly, another day of memories, too. In two hours, a public procession will take place for Pope John Paul II. His body carried through St. Peter's Square. It should be quite a sight here at the Vatican.

As our coverage continues in a moment, Robert Moynihan is my guest from "Inside the Vatican." He's the editor of that publication. We'll talk to him in a moment when we continue here live in Rome.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back to Rome, everyone. I'm Bill Hemmer, live here just outside Vatican City, where we expect later today we will see the pope's body being taken from the Apostolic Palace, which is where the private viewing continues at this hour, public procession through the square, and then into the lying of state session inside of St. Peter's Basilica.

At that point, some time this evening, perhaps right around 8:00 local time, 2:00 back in the U.S., the public viewing will begin. And we'll all wait to see how large the numbers will be here at Vatican City.

Robert Moynihan is the editor of "Inside the Vatican." We have spoken many times this week.

Robert, good afternoon again to you.

ROBERT MOYNIHAN, "INSIDE THE VATICAN": Hi, Bill.

HEMMER: You were one of the lucky ones today at the private viewing. What struck you as you passed and paid your final respects?

MOYNIHAN: Well, a group of the journalists were able to go in, along with other bishops, and we came up into the Vatican from the Port of St. Anna through the Vatican bank (ph), up the big marble hallway, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), which is about 20 feet wide. The place was completely jammed.

I walked in that hallway a few times all alone, but today there were hundreds and hundreds of people going toward the Sala Clementina, which is a room the size of a basketball court with beautiful marble carvings on the floor, about three large windows on each side. At the far end of the room was the pope's casket, where he is lying in state.

We went up four by four towards him, and at the end people would either bow their heads for a moment or genuflect. As we were going up, people were singing the "Salve Regina" in Latin, and then the Italians were breaking into rosaries, saying it in Italian. I was impressed by the piety of the people. Some of the people had tears in their eyes.

I myself felt for the first time that John Paul is not really here anymore. I saw his body, but he is not here.

And I looked over to one side, I saw Monsignor Archbishop James Harvey, who's from Milwaukee, and he's one of the most important figures in the Vatican. He's been the pope's assistant for his household. He's called the prefect of the pontifical household. And he just kind of looked over at me and shook his head as if he's completely devastated by grief.

Years ago, I asked him, "How is to work so close to the holy father?" It's he who decided often where people sit when they want to visit the pope, which president and which foreign minister gets to sit where. Harvey made that decision.

And Harvey said, "It's working very close to the flame. And I hope I don't make a mistake that will cause a bad impact on the holy father."

HEMMER: I had a sense in there, a great sense of spirit. And clearly, there was respect all throughout that room.

But the numbers did surprise me. I was told prior to going in there this was a private viewing.

MOYNIHAN: Yes.

HEMMER: I did not expect to see 5,000 people in line at the same time.

MOYNIHAN: Yes. And, of course, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) was filled with Cadillacs and black cars for embassies and different political people from Italy. Everyone who was of some importance received a private viewing this morning.

Now we're going to see whether or not we really will have a million people. Rome, I don't think, can take a million people. Right now we're already surrounded. So if there's a million people here, we'll be surrounded by people this time in a couple of days.

HEMMER: Robert Moynihan from "Inside the Vatican," thanks for spending time again with us today. Appreciate it. We'll talk again.

MOYNIHAN: All right.

HEMMER: We mentioned that two million figure. The reason why we put that out is because yesterday afternoon, right around this time, some officials here in the city of Rome were saying that's what they are bracing for. If indeed the numbers get that great, it could be a staggering amount of people in this town.

The largest single event in the Vatican during the pope's 26-year history happened about three years ago, the beatification of Mother Teresa. There were 250,000 people at one time inside of St. Peter's Square. And the Vatican felt at that time that was just about as much as they could handle at that point.

Back in 2000, during the Catholic Jubilee year, celebrating 2,000 years since the birth of Christ within the Catholic Church, they had 30 million people come to this city. But that was over the period of 12 months. And already, city officials here in Rome are saying this will be their greatest challenge to date. We'll see how it all unfolds in the next five days here live in Rome, Italy.

Let's get a break. Back in a moment here as our coverage continues. Again, another special edition of CNN's AMERICAN MORNING continues after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: And welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. It's time to get some answers to Jack's "Question of the Day."

CAFFERTY: Indeed. We have some.

When it comes to the direction of the Church after Pope John Paul II, American Catholics seem divided. The pope was a conservative leader. Fifty-nine percent of American Catholics think the next pope should take a similar approach.

However -- this according to a new CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll -- that same poll shows a majority of American Catholics want change on some of the issues in the Church, like allowing priests to marry, women priests, birth control and others.

The question is, in what direction should a new pope guide the Catholic Church?

Ann in Pennsylvania writes, "One of the areas that he'll need to take into consideration is allowing priests to marry. The number of priests is in serious decline, and this is one issue that has to be addressed."

Dan in California, "It would be nice if they became accountable for their errors and no longer hid the pedophiles in their ranks. There's nothing wrong with transparency and accountability."

John in Florida, "I've been hearing about how we Americans want change. We want the right to have an abortion, to use condoms, same- sex marriage, priests allowed to marry, and god forbid female priests, and on and on and on. What we want? This is not our church. This is god's church."

And John in Florida writes, "The new pope should continue to be the pontifex, one of his titles which means bridge builder. He needs to continue the ecumenical work of John Paul II and help people come together."

COSTELLO: Interesting. Thank you, Jack.

CAFFERTY: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: More from Rome in just a moment, including a closer look at the details of this Friday's funeral.

This is a special edition of AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: The crowds continue to build inside St. Peter's Square, and the pope's body will be carried out through a public procession in about an hour and 15 minutes from now. This will be the official transition point from the Apostolic Palace, where he has been for the past several days, to St. Peter's Basilica, where the world will come to view and pay their final respects.

Back to Rome in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: We'll head live back to Rome in just a second. We are awaiting the opening bell on Wall Street. Let's head down there right now.

I guess there's not going to be a moment of silence. You heard Andy Serwer talking earlier that there might be a moment of silence in honor of the pope. But apparently not.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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Aired April 4, 2005 - 9:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Bill Hemmer, live in Rome Italy. Pope John Paul II, many considered him to be the people's pope. In only two hours, the people's pope will be returned to the people in St. Peter's Basilica. This special edition of live coverage in Rome continues now on this AMERICAN MORNING
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer in Rome.

HEMMER: Hello again from Rome, Italy. I'm Bill Hemmer -- 3:00 in the afternoon here, 9:00 back in New York City. We thank you for being along with us today as our coverage continues. It is now day two in the mourning period, and we have much more information as to what we can anticipate today and going through the week.

The cardinals have gotten together earlier today. And after a two-hour meeting, they announced here at the Vatican that the funeral for Pope John Paul II will take place on Friday at the end of this week at 4:00 a.m. New York time. That's 10:00 a.m. Rome time. Again, on Friday at the end of the week.

Also, the burial will take place in St. Peter's Basilica. There was some question as to whether or not this pope would be chosen to be buried in his native country of Poland. That, however, will not be the case. The announcement coming a short time ago here.

Also, the private viewing continues at this hour here in the Vatican. In about two hours from now, the pope's body will be transferred from the Apostolic Palace, where it's been for the past two days, and in a very public procession the pope's body will be carried through St. Peter's Square and back into the Church of St. Peter's, where the public viewing, the official lying in state will begin. And at that point we expect upwards of two million people to converge on this city and many thousands, hundreds of thousands, in fact, to pay their final respects to Pope John Paul II.

We're just outside Vatican City. Officially, we're in the city of Rome. But down the street here just about 500 yards is when the official -- the walls of the Vatican and the boundaries and borders begin there.

Alessio Vinci is our Rome bureau chief. And Alessio is with me now as well.

And good afternoon to you.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Hi, Bill. HEMMER: One thing that I think is quite significant that we'll see in about two hours is when they officially carry the body from one location to another. It will be back through the square, a square where the pope has spent the past 26 years of his life.

VINCI: Definitely. And a square that is already filling up with thousands of pilgrims, Bill. It's been a constant flow of people going towards there, towards Vatican City, which begins with St. Peter's Square, where Rome ends and the Vatican begins.

We expect the body to be carried through several rooms inside the Apostolic Palace, down two steps -- two floors. Of course he's on the second floor now in that palace. And then he will emerge into St. Peter's Square from what is known as the bronze door.

He -- I understand from a source inside the palace, which is actually organizing all of this or helping out organizing, that the pope will actually be taking around the square for one tour and then back into -- actually into the Basilica through the main door. There is (UNINTELLIGIBLE), where the pope will actually be laid officially in state.

As you know, the viewing has been going on for the last two days or so. It's only private. Now finally, as you mentioned correctly, the pope, the people's pope, will be returned to the people.

HEMMER: You have spent a great deal of your life in the past several years covering this man. In fact, three years ago you went with him back to his native country, Poland. We've got some -- a picture that we can show our viewers at home. What struck you about that trip that you reflect on now, Alessio?

VINCI: Well, I guess the incredible thing about that trip was everyone felt this was the last opportunity for the pope to return to Rome -- to -- sorry, to Poland. And it was an incredible thing during that trip, as it always happens when you travel with the pope on the plane.

Some reporters of given the opportunity to quickly sit down next to the pope as you fly either into the country or back from a country. But that particular trip was wonderful.

Millions of people came out on the streets of Poland to perhaps pay one last good-bye, which, in fact, was a last good-bye to the pope. But the incredible thing was, as we flew back from Krakow, back into Rome, the pilot perhaps knowing that this was one of the final trips of the pope to Poland, when he took off from the airport, instead of going up in altitude, he remained a low altitude for several minutes so the pope could get a last view of Poland.

But then the incredible thing was, as we reached the Carpathian Mountains, instead of flying straight, the pope -- the pilot tilted the plane on his left-hand side, on the side on which the pope was sitting so he could see the mountains, the Carpathian Mountains that he loved so much. And I remember his plane, you know, really tilting, the pope getting the opportunity to view that. It was really a wonderful moment.

HEMMER: Alessio, thanks. Alessio Vinci here in Rome.

Officially, it is day two, day two in the mourning period that will extend for nine days total in the Vatican. Late last night at the close of day one, we went into St. Peter's Square, trying to get better ideas as to why the people have come here, and also what feeling they have inside of St. Peter's Square.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER (voice-over): So many tell us the days are different now, the pace moving with a gentle calm. The sense of spirit growing stronger, and the crowds getting bigger.

Video screens replay highlights of a remarkable life, and you can see what that life means on the faces who gather here. They are young and they are old, and they are couples in love.

These two college students came to the Vatican twice on day one.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There are so many people in the Vatican, yet there's just this calm and this peace. The people are talking, but it's very solemn and quiet.

HEMMER: And everyone who comes here seems to have their own story about him.

REV. GERALD RUANE, NEW JERSEY: The first time I saw him I said something in Polish, not in very good Polish. So at least I got a smile. So anyway...

HEMMER (voice-over): And a good memory.

RUANE: Good memory, too.

HEMMER (voice-over): The Vatican is getting ready for a funeral, building more platforms for more TV coverage, for more people around the world to get a better view. This Canadian lives in Italy, an hour outside of Rome.

SEBASTIAN GUERCIA, PILGRIM: I saw this on TV, and I saw this look on people's eyes. I said, let me go there and see if -- you know, if it is like what it is. And now I have that look in my eyes. I feel really, really sad.

HEMMER: Many called him the people's pope, and he was Janet Bedin's pope as well. She met him just three months ago and won't forget him.

JANET BEDIN, PILGRIM: It was as if everything around you as you approached him went into slow motion. As if you are in this bubble. It was truly a holy moment.

HEMMER: There seems to be many holy moments for those who come to the Vatican. And as the first day of mourning ends, the reflection on his life is just beginning.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: We are well now into Monday afternoon, well into day two, and we expect again to see the pope in another procession through St. Peter's Square in about two hours from now. And certainly we'll be here to cover that live when it happens.

Word from the White House. We talked about this yesterday. Now confirmed that U.S. President George Bush will travel to Rome later in the week to attend the funeral that again will take place at 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time, 10:00 a.m. local time here at the Vatican on Friday morning. George Bush one of more than 100 heads of state expected in attendance for the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

More from Rome in a moment. Back to New York now. And here is Carol back there -- Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Thank you, Bill.

Let's turn to Jack now and the "Question of the Day."

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Carol.

A majority of American Catholics want change in their church, change on issues like women in the priesthood, stem cell research, those kinds of things, according to a new CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll. So the "Question of the Day" this morning is, in what direction should the next pope be taking the Catholic Church?

Our e-mail address is AM@CNN.com. We'll read some of the letters in about 20 minutes.

COSTELLO: Thanks, Jack.

A rare honor will be bestowed today, a recognition of extreme courage under fire. Army Sergeant 1st Class Paul Ray Smith will be awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. Two years ago today in Iraq, he threw himself into the line of fire and saved at least 100 of his fellow soldiers.

His wife, Birgit Smith, will be at the White House today to accept the award from President Bush. And she joins us now live.

Good morning.

BIRGIT SMITH, WILL RECEIVE MEDAL OF HONOR ON BEHALF OF HUSBAND: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Can you describe how you are feeling this morning?

SMITH: I am very nervous.

COSTELLO: Oh, I bet you are.

Let's explain the battle to people that your husband took place in, the battle in which he saved so many lives. They were defending the Iraqi airport at the time, a small band of American soldiers. This was in 2003, correct?

SMITH: Yes, ma'am.

COSTELLO: And suddenly, the Iraqi elite guard appeared, started throwing grenades at the soldiers. The Bradley fighting they had, the only vehicle to protect them, ran out of ammunition. They had one .50-caliber weapon. The man behind thereat was shot and wounded, and your husband made the split-second decision.

Tell us what it was.

SMITH: He just took over, like always, and that cost his life. He saved a lot of lives, and he gave his own for his soldiers.

COSTELLO: How long was he shooting that gun?

SMITH: I don't know the time. But I heard he went through at least 150 rounds.

COSTELLO: He's credited with saving some 100 lives. Have you -- have you heard from the wives or the soldiers that were with him that day?

SMITH: Yes, definitely. I have gotten many letters, and they thank me in those letters that their sons and husbands made it home. And they are sorry for my loss, but if Paul would not have done that day what he did, they wouldn't have made it home.

COSTELLO: Did the soldiers describe to you what your husband did that day?

SMITH: Yes, they did, but they are very careful when they talk to me because they don't want to upset me. So it is hard for them to talk to me.

COSTELLO: You said your husband was a take-charge kind of guy. Tell us about him.

SMITH: Yes. Well, he was very, very strict. And he disciplined his soldiers, and he teach (ph) them everything he knew, made them ready for the battle.

COSTELLO: Only 842 such medals of honor have been awarded since the beginning of World War II. General Douglas MacArthur once said he'd sell his soul for a medal of honor. Harry Truman said he'd rather have the medal than be president.

How would your husband have felt about this?

SMITH: Paul shied away from attention, and he's probably embarrassed right now. He never wanted to stand in the spotlight, and look what happens now.

COSTELLO: Well, your 11-year-old son and you will be standing in the spotlight with President Bush later on today. How will that feel for you and for your son?

SMITH: I think we are going to celebrate the day very much. We really want to enjoy that day. And it's such a big honor to us. So we're going to try to really enjoy that day and take every moment in.

COSTELLO: Will your memories of your husband be happy ones, poignant ones?

SMITH: Definitely. Both. Yes.

COSTELLO: Birgit Smith, thank you for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

SMITH: Thank you.

COSTELLO: And that Medal of Honor ceremony will be held today at 3:00 p.m. Eastern at the White House.

There is other news this day.

Good morning, Kelly Wallace.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Lovely interview. She is darling.

COSTELLO: Oh, I know. It really touched you when she said her husband wouldn't want this attention because he was just too modest.

WALLACE: Well, he'll be getting a lot of attention on this day. Thanks, Carol.

Good morning again, everyone. And here are some other stories "Now in the News."

President Bush expected to meet next hour with Ukraine's president, Viktor Yushchenko. A wide range of issues topping today's agenda, including weapons nonproliferation. The three-day trip comes a little over two months since the new president took office in a popular uprising known as the Orange Revolution.

Volunteers along the Arizona-Mexico border have reported the first group of illegal crossers. A group of about 20 people was hauled in Sunday to Border Patrol. For the next month, the so-called minutemen will rotate shifts around the clock to keep an eye on the Arizona-Mexico border. They are looking for illegal immigrants and smugglers. The official patrol starts today.

A team of investigators heading to southwestern Washington State to figure out what caused a train derailment. An Amtrak passenger train was heading from Chicago to Portland Sunday when its locomotive and four cars derailed. At least six people were injured, none of them seriously. The line is expected to be back up and running today.

And then there were two. Tonight, the grand finale of March Madness, when top ranked Illinois takes it on number two, North Carolina, in the championship game of the NCAA basketball tournament. It has been 30 years, 30 years, since the top two teams met in the title game. A lot of attention on that game.

We turn now back to Bill Hemmer, though, in Rome.

Hi, Bill.

HEMMER: Yes, big game tonight. Hey, Kelly, thanks for that.

It is another day of pictures, Kelly, another day of memories, too. In two hours, a public procession will take place for Pope John Paul II. His body carried through St. Peter's Square. It should be quite a sight here at the Vatican.

As our coverage continues in a moment, Robert Moynihan is my guest from "Inside the Vatican." He's the editor of that publication. We'll talk to him in a moment when we continue here live in Rome.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back to Rome, everyone. I'm Bill Hemmer, live here just outside Vatican City, where we expect later today we will see the pope's body being taken from the Apostolic Palace, which is where the private viewing continues at this hour, public procession through the square, and then into the lying of state session inside of St. Peter's Basilica.

At that point, some time this evening, perhaps right around 8:00 local time, 2:00 back in the U.S., the public viewing will begin. And we'll all wait to see how large the numbers will be here at Vatican City.

Robert Moynihan is the editor of "Inside the Vatican." We have spoken many times this week.

Robert, good afternoon again to you.

ROBERT MOYNIHAN, "INSIDE THE VATICAN": Hi, Bill.

HEMMER: You were one of the lucky ones today at the private viewing. What struck you as you passed and paid your final respects?

MOYNIHAN: Well, a group of the journalists were able to go in, along with other bishops, and we came up into the Vatican from the Port of St. Anna through the Vatican bank (ph), up the big marble hallway, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), which is about 20 feet wide. The place was completely jammed.

I walked in that hallway a few times all alone, but today there were hundreds and hundreds of people going toward the Sala Clementina, which is a room the size of a basketball court with beautiful marble carvings on the floor, about three large windows on each side. At the far end of the room was the pope's casket, where he is lying in state.

We went up four by four towards him, and at the end people would either bow their heads for a moment or genuflect. As we were going up, people were singing the "Salve Regina" in Latin, and then the Italians were breaking into rosaries, saying it in Italian. I was impressed by the piety of the people. Some of the people had tears in their eyes.

I myself felt for the first time that John Paul is not really here anymore. I saw his body, but he is not here.

And I looked over to one side, I saw Monsignor Archbishop James Harvey, who's from Milwaukee, and he's one of the most important figures in the Vatican. He's been the pope's assistant for his household. He's called the prefect of the pontifical household. And he just kind of looked over at me and shook his head as if he's completely devastated by grief.

Years ago, I asked him, "How is to work so close to the holy father?" It's he who decided often where people sit when they want to visit the pope, which president and which foreign minister gets to sit where. Harvey made that decision.

And Harvey said, "It's working very close to the flame. And I hope I don't make a mistake that will cause a bad impact on the holy father."

HEMMER: I had a sense in there, a great sense of spirit. And clearly, there was respect all throughout that room.

But the numbers did surprise me. I was told prior to going in there this was a private viewing.

MOYNIHAN: Yes.

HEMMER: I did not expect to see 5,000 people in line at the same time.

MOYNIHAN: Yes. And, of course, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) was filled with Cadillacs and black cars for embassies and different political people from Italy. Everyone who was of some importance received a private viewing this morning.

Now we're going to see whether or not we really will have a million people. Rome, I don't think, can take a million people. Right now we're already surrounded. So if there's a million people here, we'll be surrounded by people this time in a couple of days.

HEMMER: Robert Moynihan from "Inside the Vatican," thanks for spending time again with us today. Appreciate it. We'll talk again.

MOYNIHAN: All right.

HEMMER: We mentioned that two million figure. The reason why we put that out is because yesterday afternoon, right around this time, some officials here in the city of Rome were saying that's what they are bracing for. If indeed the numbers get that great, it could be a staggering amount of people in this town.

The largest single event in the Vatican during the pope's 26-year history happened about three years ago, the beatification of Mother Teresa. There were 250,000 people at one time inside of St. Peter's Square. And the Vatican felt at that time that was just about as much as they could handle at that point.

Back in 2000, during the Catholic Jubilee year, celebrating 2,000 years since the birth of Christ within the Catholic Church, they had 30 million people come to this city. But that was over the period of 12 months. And already, city officials here in Rome are saying this will be their greatest challenge to date. We'll see how it all unfolds in the next five days here live in Rome, Italy.

Let's get a break. Back in a moment here as our coverage continues. Again, another special edition of CNN's AMERICAN MORNING continues after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: And welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. It's time to get some answers to Jack's "Question of the Day."

CAFFERTY: Indeed. We have some.

When it comes to the direction of the Church after Pope John Paul II, American Catholics seem divided. The pope was a conservative leader. Fifty-nine percent of American Catholics think the next pope should take a similar approach.

However -- this according to a new CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll -- that same poll shows a majority of American Catholics want change on some of the issues in the Church, like allowing priests to marry, women priests, birth control and others.

The question is, in what direction should a new pope guide the Catholic Church?

Ann in Pennsylvania writes, "One of the areas that he'll need to take into consideration is allowing priests to marry. The number of priests is in serious decline, and this is one issue that has to be addressed."

Dan in California, "It would be nice if they became accountable for their errors and no longer hid the pedophiles in their ranks. There's nothing wrong with transparency and accountability."

John in Florida, "I've been hearing about how we Americans want change. We want the right to have an abortion, to use condoms, same- sex marriage, priests allowed to marry, and god forbid female priests, and on and on and on. What we want? This is not our church. This is god's church."

And John in Florida writes, "The new pope should continue to be the pontifex, one of his titles which means bridge builder. He needs to continue the ecumenical work of John Paul II and help people come together."

COSTELLO: Interesting. Thank you, Jack.

CAFFERTY: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: More from Rome in just a moment, including a closer look at the details of this Friday's funeral.

This is a special edition of AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: The crowds continue to build inside St. Peter's Square, and the pope's body will be carried out through a public procession in about an hour and 15 minutes from now. This will be the official transition point from the Apostolic Palace, where he has been for the past several days, to St. Peter's Basilica, where the world will come to view and pay their final respects.

Back to Rome in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: We'll head live back to Rome in just a second. We are awaiting the opening bell on Wall Street. Let's head down there right now.

I guess there's not going to be a moment of silence. You heard Andy Serwer talking earlier that there might be a moment of silence in honor of the pope. But apparently not.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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