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American Morning

Pope's Final Will; Challenging the Pope; Johnnie Cochran Remembered

Aired April 07, 2005 - 09:00   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: Good morning. A developing story at the Vatican with surprises today coming from the pope's last will and testament. These reports coming out at this hour, John Paul's thoughts on resigning and the possibility of a funeral in Poland. We'll get into more of that as our coverage continues live in Italy now on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien at the CNN Broadcast Center in New York and Bill Hemmer in Rome.

HEMMER: As our coverage continues, good morning and good afternoon again, from the Vatican. I'm Bill Hemmer.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Nice to see you, Bill.

I'm Soledad O'Brien, reporting from New York this morning.

We've got lots happening here as well to get to, including this new controversy surrounding House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. It now regards a trip he took to Moscow. Are Republicans starting to get worried? We'll take a look at that this morning.

Also, a message from Al Sharpton to O.J. Simpson that could only be delivered at the funeral for Johnnie Cochran. A look at that as well is ahead.

Jack Cafferty, good morning.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Reverend Al's got a way with words, doesn't he?

O'BRIEN: Oh, doesn't he, though?

CAFFERTY: Mercy.

The state of Florida has signed into law a new bill which liberalizes the circumstances under which you're allowed to shoot someone who you perceive is intent on doing you harm. The critics say that this could open up a shoot first, ask questions later mentality down there.

What do you think of the new law? AM@CNN.com is the email address. And we'll be interested in reading some of your thoughts.

O'BRIEN: Some of the interesting email I thought as well, when people would say, so you really do have to wait until someone actually attacks you or shoots you first, mugs you or kills you, before you're able to defend yourself. Which is, you know, a very interesting and valid point.

CAFFERTY: Yes. There are a lot of people that say, you know, the criminal element gets the break in the criminal justice system in this country. And this kind of law tends to balance the scales, put them on notice.

O'BRIEN: Well, we'll talk about that ahead this morning.

Let's get to Bill Hemmer. He's in Vatican City for us this morning.

Good morning again, Bill.

HEMMER: Soledad, hello.

Breaking news at this hour. And we continue to collect information literally in real time at this moment.

The Associated Press is reporting some fascinating details contained in this five-page typed document, 15 pages handwritten, that suggests that the pope considered retirement back in the year 2000. This as the millennium was coming on board and as the pope was coming up at the age of 80. Also, some interesting material, too, about what he wanted done with his own personal writings and material goods, too.

And again, we're working the phones here at the Vatican. Delia Gallagher, our Vatican analyst, back with me. And she just hung up the phone, as a matter of fact, with John Allen, who I believe is in the Vatican media office.

What did he tell you?

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: Yes. Yes. OK.

Well, it seems that with regard to this question of the pope's burial, where he would like to have been buried, he does mention that he would leave it up to the cardinals to decide whether he could be buried in Poland at the Cathedral of Krakow. So that is one point he that he sort of leaves open. I think the key phrase there being "leaves open to the cardinals."

The other issues we have...

HEMMER: The other issue about retirement seems to be the other headline.

GALLAGHER: Yes. Well, the retirement issue was in the year 2000. The pope turned 80. But more than that, in the way that he wrote it, he was reflecting on the fact that he felt -- he quotes this story of Simeon in the bible, who sees the baby Jesus and says, "Oh, now I can go."

So this is the sort of parallel that the pope makes with his reflection on his pontificate. He says, maybe it's for somebody else to take the church into the next millennium. My job was to take it to here.

HEMMER: Wow.

GALLAGHER: And now, perhaps, you know, I can -- so this was the sort of sense of the retirement, that he had accomplished what he felt he needed to accomplish in the year 2000.

HEMMER: All right. The Associated Press also reporting this, he mentions two living people in his will.

GALLAGHER: Yes.

HEMMER: His personal secretary, and the chief rabbi of Rome, who I believe years ago in 1986, I think...

GALLAGHER: Yes, Rabbi -- yes.

HEMMER: ... invited him into his synagogue here in Italy.

GALLAGHER: Exactly. He was the first pope to enter into a Jewish synagogue. So he was -- he was very close to the chief rabbi of Rome, and I think that that's a very important message. He also mentions non-Catholics as well. So he does embrace sort of everybody that he had met during his pontificate.

HEMMER: Well, we have said this man had no walls. And again, that's showing up in this will.

GALLAGHER: Yes.

HEMMER: What are we to make of the personal notes and the requests to have them burned? Why would he want that?

GALLAGHER: Well, I don't know. I think it's not surprising.

Paul VI made the same request. I suppose it's just to avoid that something gets published after his death, that he is not able then to control or to reinterpret any way.

You know, obviously the pope, for example, is publishing -- the book was published in April this month in the states called "Memory and Identity." It was a book from 1993, conversations based on 1993 in which the pope has revised up until now, up until the year 2004. He was revising that.

So you can imagine how much he sort of worked on his documents. He wouldn't want any of his -- any of his scribblings, as it were, to be published.

(CROSSTALK)

HEMMER: What about with regard to his family? He reflects a lot apparently on his mother and his father.

GALLAGHER: Yes, he starts the will saying, "At this time, I'm thinking of the brother and sister I never knew." His sister died right after childbirth, and his brother died I think nine years of age. So he didn't know them. And his mother then died, and his father died when the pope was about 21.

So he lost all of his family. So he reflects a lot on his family in the will.

HEMMER: This is the news of the day we've been waiting for now for about 48 hours. And we'll continue to talk about it now. Delia, thanks.

GALLAGHER: You're welcome.

HEMMER: I want to let our viewers now -- also, as this city now gets ready for this funeral tomorrow, it will be massive, and it will be extraordinary, too, in its beauty. Officials trying to wrap up the procession of mourners coming to view the pope's remains.

It was late last night pilgrims trying to get in line were turned away. But still today -- in fact, we were down there several hours ago -- people trying to slip into the line this morning. And a lot of them were quite successful, actually.

The public viewing ends tonight, 10:00 in the evening here in Italy. And St. Peter's Basilica then is closed for final preparations for the funeral on tomorrow.

Now, estimates of visitors in Rome for the funeral now as high as five million throughout the week here. And authorities trying to deal with this massive health and security challenges.

President Bush is here with the U.S. delegation, praying yesterday also in front of the pope inside of St. Peter's. There will be close to 200 world leaders, kings and queens and prime ministers and presidents. They will all be here, and security will be tight.

Fifteen thousand security personnel expected to be on crowd control by the start of the funeral tomorrow. And also, NATO has accepted the Italian invitation to come here and help oversee things today and into the day tomorrow.

Live coverage on CNN begins early, 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time. And officially, the funeral will start at 4:00 a.m. Eastern. And we will be here to watch it.

To New York now and the rest of the news, and Carol Costello.

Good morning there.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Good morning, Bill.

Good morning to all of you.

"Now in the News," a new Iraqi government beginning to take shape. Within the past 15 minutes, Ibrahim al-Jaafari has been nominated as the country's new prime minister. The announcement comes just about an hour after the Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani was sworn in as Iraq's new president. The long-awaited events give Iraq its first freely elected government in half a century.

The public could get details today from an internal report about suspect Brian Nichols and the Georgia courthouse shooting. A superior court judge is expected to decide today whether to release the sheriff's report. It's supposed to detail exactly what happened the day Nichols apparently shot a judge and three other people. Nichols has not officially been charged in those shootings.

A massive brush fire in the west Miami-Dade area in south Florida. Large plumes of smoke seen over the area. Take a look at these pictures.

Some 400 acres now reportedly on fire. Firefighters, of course, are on the scene. Luckily, the fire is not near any residential area, so we have no reports of injuries.

Severe storms ripping through the Southeast. A small tornado forcing a truck off the road and knocking down power lines across northwestern Louisiana. The damage so bad in Mississippi the governor there has declared a state of emergency.

Dozens of buildings have been left destroyed, and it's left at least eight people hurt. But the good news here, nobody died in these storms.

I guess the news of the day weather-wise is in Augusta, Georgia, Chad, because, you know, the Masters and all.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: It was October of 1979, Pope John Paul II's first trip to the United States. The women's rights struggle was in full swing, and Sister Theresa Kane issued a challenge to the new pope to make the Catholic Church more inclusive. Here is what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SISTER THERESA KANE, RSM, WASHINGTON: I urge you, your holiness, to be open to and to respond to the voices coming from the women of this country who are desirous of serving in and through the church as fully participating members.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: It was a controversial message. What was the fallout from that speech? Sister Theresa Kane joins us this morning.

Nice to see you. Thanks for coming in to talk to us.

KANE: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Going into those -- those words, what was going through your mind? Were you nervous?

KANE: Well, I wasn't nervous about saying it. I think my anxiety came from, was I being faithful to the organization I was representing? I was there on behalf of the women presidents of the orders of nuns around the country, and we had dealt with the question of women in church and society for most of the 1970s.

O'BRIEN: So when you asked the question, I mean, fully participating members is how you asked it. It's a very controversial point. What was the reaction just in the room?

KANE: Well, I think in the room it was mixed. I think there were many, many of the sisters who really were very appreciative of it. A number of them had come and had demonstrated, actually, because they wanted to see the ordination of women.

There were sisters there who were not pleased with it, that it was said at that particular moment. There were others who did not agree with it. So it was a mixed audience. But I would say that many of them that I was in touch with really applauded it being said.

O'BRIEN: The fallout nationally and internationally, of course, is something else to talk about. "Newsweek" started calling you the nun who spoke out to the pope. "The Washington Post" had headlines. "Challenge" was the word that was being used.

What did you think of the national and international commotion that that comment caused?

KANE: Well, I think what happened is, I didn't expect it to have been publicized internationally, and I think that that added to the dimension. But I think that what was important about it is that we needed to just publicly state what was going on among women in church and society.

And women had come through a lot through the '60s and '70s with Vatican Council II, with all that went on with the international women's movement, that then became major conferences at the United Nations. So I think what I was saying was part of that.

I think the reason that it became such a controversial issue is because it was not expected. It was not the usual greeting that you give when there is a welcome. But -- and I did feel it was important to say something about that issue, because it was a critical issue.

O'BRIEN: You were later asked to clarify the message, and you wouldn't change, you wouldn't sort of say, oh, you know, you misheard me or I misspoke. You never sort of changed your tune when you were asked by the Vatican to clarify the message. At the same time, you made three requests to meet with the pope and you were denied every time.

What do you think was behind those denials?

KANE: Well, I was very disappointed in that. The organizations, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, we made two requests. And then before I left the presidency of the Sisters of Mercy, I, along with my successor, requested to have an audience with the pope, because I thought it was important to speak to him about a number of issues that we had had. And the answer was no each time. So I was very disappointed. I did receive a message back from him in the year 2000 through one of our sisters who had gone with the bishops, saying that he was sending his greetings to me. But I never did meet with him, and I think that would have been an appropriate thing to do.

O'BRIEN: Sister Kane, nice to have you tell us your story. Thanks for talking with us this morning.

KANE: Oh, you're very welcome. Nice to be here.

O'BRIEN: Nice to see you. Thank you.

KANE: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: A short break. We're going to take you back to Vatican City in just a little bit.

Also this morning, we're talking about an ethics scandal that's enveloping a high-ranking Republican lawmaker. But could his defense be more harmful than the allegations?

And Johnnie Cochran's funeral, it was a star-studded event. But the spotlight may have shown brightest on the Reverend Al Sharpton because of what he said about O.J. Simpson. The Reverend Sharpton joins us live up next on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. AL SHARPTON, FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: With all due respect to you, brother Simpson, we didn't clap when the acquittal of Simpson came for O.J. We were clapping for Johnnie.

We were clapping -- we were clapping because, for decades, our brothers, our cousins, our uncles had to stand in the well with no one to stand up for them. And finally, a black man came and said, "If it don't fit, you must acquit."

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: That was the Reverend Al Sharpton speaking on Wednesday at the funeral of famed defense attorney Johnnie Cochran. The event was attended by many of Cochran's former clients, including Michael Jackson and Sean P. Diddy Combs and, as you saw, O.J. Simpson.

Reverend Al Sharpton with us this morning.

Nice to see you again.

SHARPTON: Good morning.

O'BRIEN: It's so rare that you see a standing ovation at a funeral, frankly. And there you had people cheering and clapping.

What you said was, "We weren't clapping for you, O.J. We were cheering for Johnnie." How did O.J. Simpson take that?

SHARPTON: Well, I don't know. I didn't talk with him. But...

O'BRIEN: You see him smiling in the cutaway shot.

SHARPTON: Yes. I felt it had to be said.

And again, taking nothing from O.J., or the merits of the case -- and clearly he was acquitted -- but I think a late of Americans misunderstood the real sense of celebration was not around the case but was around a lot of historical abuse that people of color have suffered in the criminal justice system. And Johnnie Cochran came through.

He showed that we could, in this particular case, challenge the system, that you can't try someone by the media. You have to try them by the evidence. And I think that a lot of people agreed with me, which is why they responded that way.

O'BRIEN: What did people tell you? Because, yes, I mean, clearly it seems like you touched a nerve here.

SHARPTON: A lot of people said they've been waiting 10 years for someone to say in that kind of forum with a lot of media that a lot of people felt it was a good tribute to Johnnie. Because that's what Johnnie Cochran's contribution was.

He made America deal with the fact that the presumption of innocence goes for everybody, including people of color. And that you should be proven guilty or not, and that you should not go in with the presumption of guilt just because of the color of your skin.

O'BRIEN: The range of people who were at this funeral to remember Johnnie Cochran, I mean, Michael Jackson was there, didn't have much to say. Congressman Charlie Rangel was there, Sean P. Diddy Combs, we mentioned. And then also a lot of poor people. You know, not bold-faced name kind of people.

Surprise you at all?

O'BRIEN: I thought it was a tremendous outpouring. It did kind of surprise me, and I'm sure it made the family feel good.

Literally thousands of people. You couldn't hardly get near West Angeles Cathedral because it was just ordinary people, many of whom Johnnie defended and supported, as he did in New York and around the country. Those were the people that were the real stars at Johnnie's funeral because those are the people he gave his life for.

It was a tremendous recognition of a man that meant more than just some Hollywood stars that he represented. And I think P. Diddy made a good point when he said, "I found myself a day after Christmas one year in a jail. And I only had one call I could make. And I called Johnnie."

I thought that was something that spoke to all of us.

O'BRIEN: He's not the only celebrity who has said that.

SHARPTON: And non-celebrity.

O'BRIEN: And non-celebrity as well. It was interesting to hear Johnnie Cochran's son say, you know, "God must be a need a lawyer" in having called his dad up. And also his daughter Tiffany, who's a colleague of ours. She's a journalist.

SHARPTON: Right. And he was proud of all three of his children. And all of them spoke and they spoke very movingly. And it was a wide array of people.

But I think the legacy of Johnnie Cochran is, in this generation, this era where Thurgood Marshall was, he stood up against odds and he made a difference. And he made us all feel like we mattered in the criminal justice system. And that's why he got the kind of tribute that he got yesterday. Well-deserved, and I think he'll be remembered for a long time.

O'BRIEN: Reverend Al Sharpton, nice to see you as always. Thanks for talking with us.

SHARPTON: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Let's go back to Bill Hemmer. He's in Vatican City this morning -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Soledad.

In a moment, we're back here in Italy with the pope's protectors. They are known as the Swiss Guard. Loyal foot soldiers for half a century, delving into the historic origins of the world's smallest army, that's next here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: We have seen a lot of the pope's Swiss Guards in recent days. They're hard to miss, too, those colorful uniforms. But do not be fooled, however.

This is an elite military unit. Also one that's been keeping the peace and protecting the pope now for centuries.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER (voice-over): In death, as in life, the pope was flanked by his loyal foot soldiers, the Swiss Guard, the papal protectors among the millions this week, paying their final respects. The Vatican Swiss Guard is the oldest continually active military corps in history. CNN's John Allen says it's a tradition that began almost 500 years ago, when the pope was a spiritual and secular leader in Italy. JOHN ALLEN, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: He needed an army. And although he had a local army, he also would occasionally hire mercenaries.

And at that time the best band of mercenaries on the market were actually the Swiss. And so the pope began employing the Swiss, and this tradition developed, that the pope would have a corps of Swiss military sort of at his disposal.

HEMMER: Members of the modern male-only Swiss Guard must be Catholic, between 19 and 30 years old, at least 5'7", have military training, be single, and, of course, be Swiss. New recruits are sworn in every May, the date chosen to commemorate a battle in which a large number of Swiss Guards died defending the Vatican.

ALLEN: Low pay and long hours, but obviously the proximity to the pope and the opportunity to be on the inside of one of the world's most fascinating institutions is a pretty powerful draw.

HEMMER: The colorful uniforms date back to the 16th century. Legend has it they were designed by Michelangelo.

ALLEN: These guys aren't simply, you know, like the guy wearing the Mickey Mouse suit at Disneyland. I mean, these guys are trained military and police professionals.

HEMMER: The elite guard may also be the world's smallest army. Despite an assassination attempt against the pope in 1981, the small security detail appeared fitting for John Paul II's personality.

ALLEN: This pope has always prized contact with humanity. He wants the least filter possible between himself and the people he obviously loved so much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: And they will have it an enormous job again tomorrow, helping keep the security in line for the funeral.

Down there on St. Peter's Square, we've been watching the scene now for hours. Setting up a multitude of chairs, thousands that we can see from our position here. And still the mourners file on by again at this hour.

Back to the Vatican in a moment. But here's Soledad again in New York.

And good morning back there, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Thank you very much, Bill.

Let's get right, in fact, to Jack Cafferty. He's got a look at the "Question of the Day" this morning.

Good morning again.

CAFFERTY: Thanks, Soledad.

Lawmakers in Florida approving a bill this week that allows a gun owner to shoot an attacker at home or on the street in self-defense. It's called the Stand Your Ground bill, and no longer requires a person to retreat before defending themselves.

The question this morning is should it be legal for Florida residents to open fire when they perceive a threat?

Greg in Colorado writes, "What? If someone thinks I looked at them funny and they perceive that as a threat they can shoot me and it's OK? How stupid can these lawmakers be?"

"Oh, wait, it's Florida. The 2000 election, Elian Gonzalez, Terri Schiavo, and now legalized murder. Can't wait to visit."

Michelle, in New York writes, "Halloween is going to be interesting."

Tony in Illinois writes, "This law should really help boost tourism. Perhaps a government study concerning mass quanties of sunshine, sand, orange juice and mobile homes and their combined influence on sanity is in order."

We've gotten a lot of mail about Jane Fonda being here. I wanted to read you this one form Matt in St. Charles, Missouri... "I was privileged to listen to Jane Fonda 35 years ago pontificating on Radio Hanoi over my tiny portable radio between the blast of North Vietnamese artillery shells exploding all around my buddies and me. Everyone should be able to hear a traitor in real speak at least once so they'll always know what treason really means. Thank you for giving more people that opportunity today."

O'BRIEN: Interesting feedback.

CAFFERTY: A lot of mail like that.

O'BRIEN: Really?

CAFFERTY: There are a lot of people that never forgave her, probably never will.

O'BRIEN: Yes. I think that is fair to say. All right, Jack. Thanks.

CAFFERTY: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Just ahead this morning, some breaking health news. The FDA is calling for withdrawal of a popular painkiller and seeking the strongest warning for another drug as well. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired April 7, 2005 - 09:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. A developing story at the Vatican with surprises today coming from the pope's last will and testament. These reports coming out at this hour, John Paul's thoughts on resigning and the possibility of a funeral in Poland. We'll get into more of that as our coverage continues live in Italy now on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien at the CNN Broadcast Center in New York and Bill Hemmer in Rome.

HEMMER: As our coverage continues, good morning and good afternoon again, from the Vatican. I'm Bill Hemmer.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Nice to see you, Bill.

I'm Soledad O'Brien, reporting from New York this morning.

We've got lots happening here as well to get to, including this new controversy surrounding House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. It now regards a trip he took to Moscow. Are Republicans starting to get worried? We'll take a look at that this morning.

Also, a message from Al Sharpton to O.J. Simpson that could only be delivered at the funeral for Johnnie Cochran. A look at that as well is ahead.

Jack Cafferty, good morning.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Reverend Al's got a way with words, doesn't he?

O'BRIEN: Oh, doesn't he, though?

CAFFERTY: Mercy.

The state of Florida has signed into law a new bill which liberalizes the circumstances under which you're allowed to shoot someone who you perceive is intent on doing you harm. The critics say that this could open up a shoot first, ask questions later mentality down there.

What do you think of the new law? AM@CNN.com is the email address. And we'll be interested in reading some of your thoughts.

O'BRIEN: Some of the interesting email I thought as well, when people would say, so you really do have to wait until someone actually attacks you or shoots you first, mugs you or kills you, before you're able to defend yourself. Which is, you know, a very interesting and valid point.

CAFFERTY: Yes. There are a lot of people that say, you know, the criminal element gets the break in the criminal justice system in this country. And this kind of law tends to balance the scales, put them on notice.

O'BRIEN: Well, we'll talk about that ahead this morning.

Let's get to Bill Hemmer. He's in Vatican City for us this morning.

Good morning again, Bill.

HEMMER: Soledad, hello.

Breaking news at this hour. And we continue to collect information literally in real time at this moment.

The Associated Press is reporting some fascinating details contained in this five-page typed document, 15 pages handwritten, that suggests that the pope considered retirement back in the year 2000. This as the millennium was coming on board and as the pope was coming up at the age of 80. Also, some interesting material, too, about what he wanted done with his own personal writings and material goods, too.

And again, we're working the phones here at the Vatican. Delia Gallagher, our Vatican analyst, back with me. And she just hung up the phone, as a matter of fact, with John Allen, who I believe is in the Vatican media office.

What did he tell you?

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: Yes. Yes. OK.

Well, it seems that with regard to this question of the pope's burial, where he would like to have been buried, he does mention that he would leave it up to the cardinals to decide whether he could be buried in Poland at the Cathedral of Krakow. So that is one point he that he sort of leaves open. I think the key phrase there being "leaves open to the cardinals."

The other issues we have...

HEMMER: The other issue about retirement seems to be the other headline.

GALLAGHER: Yes. Well, the retirement issue was in the year 2000. The pope turned 80. But more than that, in the way that he wrote it, he was reflecting on the fact that he felt -- he quotes this story of Simeon in the bible, who sees the baby Jesus and says, "Oh, now I can go."

So this is the sort of parallel that the pope makes with his reflection on his pontificate. He says, maybe it's for somebody else to take the church into the next millennium. My job was to take it to here.

HEMMER: Wow.

GALLAGHER: And now, perhaps, you know, I can -- so this was the sort of sense of the retirement, that he had accomplished what he felt he needed to accomplish in the year 2000.

HEMMER: All right. The Associated Press also reporting this, he mentions two living people in his will.

GALLAGHER: Yes.

HEMMER: His personal secretary, and the chief rabbi of Rome, who I believe years ago in 1986, I think...

GALLAGHER: Yes, Rabbi -- yes.

HEMMER: ... invited him into his synagogue here in Italy.

GALLAGHER: Exactly. He was the first pope to enter into a Jewish synagogue. So he was -- he was very close to the chief rabbi of Rome, and I think that that's a very important message. He also mentions non-Catholics as well. So he does embrace sort of everybody that he had met during his pontificate.

HEMMER: Well, we have said this man had no walls. And again, that's showing up in this will.

GALLAGHER: Yes.

HEMMER: What are we to make of the personal notes and the requests to have them burned? Why would he want that?

GALLAGHER: Well, I don't know. I think it's not surprising.

Paul VI made the same request. I suppose it's just to avoid that something gets published after his death, that he is not able then to control or to reinterpret any way.

You know, obviously the pope, for example, is publishing -- the book was published in April this month in the states called "Memory and Identity." It was a book from 1993, conversations based on 1993 in which the pope has revised up until now, up until the year 2004. He was revising that.

So you can imagine how much he sort of worked on his documents. He wouldn't want any of his -- any of his scribblings, as it were, to be published.

(CROSSTALK)

HEMMER: What about with regard to his family? He reflects a lot apparently on his mother and his father.

GALLAGHER: Yes, he starts the will saying, "At this time, I'm thinking of the brother and sister I never knew." His sister died right after childbirth, and his brother died I think nine years of age. So he didn't know them. And his mother then died, and his father died when the pope was about 21.

So he lost all of his family. So he reflects a lot on his family in the will.

HEMMER: This is the news of the day we've been waiting for now for about 48 hours. And we'll continue to talk about it now. Delia, thanks.

GALLAGHER: You're welcome.

HEMMER: I want to let our viewers now -- also, as this city now gets ready for this funeral tomorrow, it will be massive, and it will be extraordinary, too, in its beauty. Officials trying to wrap up the procession of mourners coming to view the pope's remains.

It was late last night pilgrims trying to get in line were turned away. But still today -- in fact, we were down there several hours ago -- people trying to slip into the line this morning. And a lot of them were quite successful, actually.

The public viewing ends tonight, 10:00 in the evening here in Italy. And St. Peter's Basilica then is closed for final preparations for the funeral on tomorrow.

Now, estimates of visitors in Rome for the funeral now as high as five million throughout the week here. And authorities trying to deal with this massive health and security challenges.

President Bush is here with the U.S. delegation, praying yesterday also in front of the pope inside of St. Peter's. There will be close to 200 world leaders, kings and queens and prime ministers and presidents. They will all be here, and security will be tight.

Fifteen thousand security personnel expected to be on crowd control by the start of the funeral tomorrow. And also, NATO has accepted the Italian invitation to come here and help oversee things today and into the day tomorrow.

Live coverage on CNN begins early, 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time. And officially, the funeral will start at 4:00 a.m. Eastern. And we will be here to watch it.

To New York now and the rest of the news, and Carol Costello.

Good morning there.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Good morning, Bill.

Good morning to all of you.

"Now in the News," a new Iraqi government beginning to take shape. Within the past 15 minutes, Ibrahim al-Jaafari has been nominated as the country's new prime minister. The announcement comes just about an hour after the Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani was sworn in as Iraq's new president. The long-awaited events give Iraq its first freely elected government in half a century.

The public could get details today from an internal report about suspect Brian Nichols and the Georgia courthouse shooting. A superior court judge is expected to decide today whether to release the sheriff's report. It's supposed to detail exactly what happened the day Nichols apparently shot a judge and three other people. Nichols has not officially been charged in those shootings.

A massive brush fire in the west Miami-Dade area in south Florida. Large plumes of smoke seen over the area. Take a look at these pictures.

Some 400 acres now reportedly on fire. Firefighters, of course, are on the scene. Luckily, the fire is not near any residential area, so we have no reports of injuries.

Severe storms ripping through the Southeast. A small tornado forcing a truck off the road and knocking down power lines across northwestern Louisiana. The damage so bad in Mississippi the governor there has declared a state of emergency.

Dozens of buildings have been left destroyed, and it's left at least eight people hurt. But the good news here, nobody died in these storms.

I guess the news of the day weather-wise is in Augusta, Georgia, Chad, because, you know, the Masters and all.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: It was October of 1979, Pope John Paul II's first trip to the United States. The women's rights struggle was in full swing, and Sister Theresa Kane issued a challenge to the new pope to make the Catholic Church more inclusive. Here is what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SISTER THERESA KANE, RSM, WASHINGTON: I urge you, your holiness, to be open to and to respond to the voices coming from the women of this country who are desirous of serving in and through the church as fully participating members.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: It was a controversial message. What was the fallout from that speech? Sister Theresa Kane joins us this morning.

Nice to see you. Thanks for coming in to talk to us.

KANE: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Going into those -- those words, what was going through your mind? Were you nervous?

KANE: Well, I wasn't nervous about saying it. I think my anxiety came from, was I being faithful to the organization I was representing? I was there on behalf of the women presidents of the orders of nuns around the country, and we had dealt with the question of women in church and society for most of the 1970s.

O'BRIEN: So when you asked the question, I mean, fully participating members is how you asked it. It's a very controversial point. What was the reaction just in the room?

KANE: Well, I think in the room it was mixed. I think there were many, many of the sisters who really were very appreciative of it. A number of them had come and had demonstrated, actually, because they wanted to see the ordination of women.

There were sisters there who were not pleased with it, that it was said at that particular moment. There were others who did not agree with it. So it was a mixed audience. But I would say that many of them that I was in touch with really applauded it being said.

O'BRIEN: The fallout nationally and internationally, of course, is something else to talk about. "Newsweek" started calling you the nun who spoke out to the pope. "The Washington Post" had headlines. "Challenge" was the word that was being used.

What did you think of the national and international commotion that that comment caused?

KANE: Well, I think what happened is, I didn't expect it to have been publicized internationally, and I think that that added to the dimension. But I think that what was important about it is that we needed to just publicly state what was going on among women in church and society.

And women had come through a lot through the '60s and '70s with Vatican Council II, with all that went on with the international women's movement, that then became major conferences at the United Nations. So I think what I was saying was part of that.

I think the reason that it became such a controversial issue is because it was not expected. It was not the usual greeting that you give when there is a welcome. But -- and I did feel it was important to say something about that issue, because it was a critical issue.

O'BRIEN: You were later asked to clarify the message, and you wouldn't change, you wouldn't sort of say, oh, you know, you misheard me or I misspoke. You never sort of changed your tune when you were asked by the Vatican to clarify the message. At the same time, you made three requests to meet with the pope and you were denied every time.

What do you think was behind those denials?

KANE: Well, I was very disappointed in that. The organizations, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, we made two requests. And then before I left the presidency of the Sisters of Mercy, I, along with my successor, requested to have an audience with the pope, because I thought it was important to speak to him about a number of issues that we had had. And the answer was no each time. So I was very disappointed. I did receive a message back from him in the year 2000 through one of our sisters who had gone with the bishops, saying that he was sending his greetings to me. But I never did meet with him, and I think that would have been an appropriate thing to do.

O'BRIEN: Sister Kane, nice to have you tell us your story. Thanks for talking with us this morning.

KANE: Oh, you're very welcome. Nice to be here.

O'BRIEN: Nice to see you. Thank you.

KANE: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: A short break. We're going to take you back to Vatican City in just a little bit.

Also this morning, we're talking about an ethics scandal that's enveloping a high-ranking Republican lawmaker. But could his defense be more harmful than the allegations?

And Johnnie Cochran's funeral, it was a star-studded event. But the spotlight may have shown brightest on the Reverend Al Sharpton because of what he said about O.J. Simpson. The Reverend Sharpton joins us live up next on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. AL SHARPTON, FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: With all due respect to you, brother Simpson, we didn't clap when the acquittal of Simpson came for O.J. We were clapping for Johnnie.

We were clapping -- we were clapping because, for decades, our brothers, our cousins, our uncles had to stand in the well with no one to stand up for them. And finally, a black man came and said, "If it don't fit, you must acquit."

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: That was the Reverend Al Sharpton speaking on Wednesday at the funeral of famed defense attorney Johnnie Cochran. The event was attended by many of Cochran's former clients, including Michael Jackson and Sean P. Diddy Combs and, as you saw, O.J. Simpson.

Reverend Al Sharpton with us this morning.

Nice to see you again.

SHARPTON: Good morning.

O'BRIEN: It's so rare that you see a standing ovation at a funeral, frankly. And there you had people cheering and clapping.

What you said was, "We weren't clapping for you, O.J. We were cheering for Johnnie." How did O.J. Simpson take that?

SHARPTON: Well, I don't know. I didn't talk with him. But...

O'BRIEN: You see him smiling in the cutaway shot.

SHARPTON: Yes. I felt it had to be said.

And again, taking nothing from O.J., or the merits of the case -- and clearly he was acquitted -- but I think a late of Americans misunderstood the real sense of celebration was not around the case but was around a lot of historical abuse that people of color have suffered in the criminal justice system. And Johnnie Cochran came through.

He showed that we could, in this particular case, challenge the system, that you can't try someone by the media. You have to try them by the evidence. And I think that a lot of people agreed with me, which is why they responded that way.

O'BRIEN: What did people tell you? Because, yes, I mean, clearly it seems like you touched a nerve here.

SHARPTON: A lot of people said they've been waiting 10 years for someone to say in that kind of forum with a lot of media that a lot of people felt it was a good tribute to Johnnie. Because that's what Johnnie Cochran's contribution was.

He made America deal with the fact that the presumption of innocence goes for everybody, including people of color. And that you should be proven guilty or not, and that you should not go in with the presumption of guilt just because of the color of your skin.

O'BRIEN: The range of people who were at this funeral to remember Johnnie Cochran, I mean, Michael Jackson was there, didn't have much to say. Congressman Charlie Rangel was there, Sean P. Diddy Combs, we mentioned. And then also a lot of poor people. You know, not bold-faced name kind of people.

Surprise you at all?

O'BRIEN: I thought it was a tremendous outpouring. It did kind of surprise me, and I'm sure it made the family feel good.

Literally thousands of people. You couldn't hardly get near West Angeles Cathedral because it was just ordinary people, many of whom Johnnie defended and supported, as he did in New York and around the country. Those were the people that were the real stars at Johnnie's funeral because those are the people he gave his life for.

It was a tremendous recognition of a man that meant more than just some Hollywood stars that he represented. And I think P. Diddy made a good point when he said, "I found myself a day after Christmas one year in a jail. And I only had one call I could make. And I called Johnnie."

I thought that was something that spoke to all of us.

O'BRIEN: He's not the only celebrity who has said that.

SHARPTON: And non-celebrity.

O'BRIEN: And non-celebrity as well. It was interesting to hear Johnnie Cochran's son say, you know, "God must be a need a lawyer" in having called his dad up. And also his daughter Tiffany, who's a colleague of ours. She's a journalist.

SHARPTON: Right. And he was proud of all three of his children. And all of them spoke and they spoke very movingly. And it was a wide array of people.

But I think the legacy of Johnnie Cochran is, in this generation, this era where Thurgood Marshall was, he stood up against odds and he made a difference. And he made us all feel like we mattered in the criminal justice system. And that's why he got the kind of tribute that he got yesterday. Well-deserved, and I think he'll be remembered for a long time.

O'BRIEN: Reverend Al Sharpton, nice to see you as always. Thanks for talking with us.

SHARPTON: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Let's go back to Bill Hemmer. He's in Vatican City this morning -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Soledad.

In a moment, we're back here in Italy with the pope's protectors. They are known as the Swiss Guard. Loyal foot soldiers for half a century, delving into the historic origins of the world's smallest army, that's next here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: We have seen a lot of the pope's Swiss Guards in recent days. They're hard to miss, too, those colorful uniforms. But do not be fooled, however.

This is an elite military unit. Also one that's been keeping the peace and protecting the pope now for centuries.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER (voice-over): In death, as in life, the pope was flanked by his loyal foot soldiers, the Swiss Guard, the papal protectors among the millions this week, paying their final respects. The Vatican Swiss Guard is the oldest continually active military corps in history. CNN's John Allen says it's a tradition that began almost 500 years ago, when the pope was a spiritual and secular leader in Italy. JOHN ALLEN, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: He needed an army. And although he had a local army, he also would occasionally hire mercenaries.

And at that time the best band of mercenaries on the market were actually the Swiss. And so the pope began employing the Swiss, and this tradition developed, that the pope would have a corps of Swiss military sort of at his disposal.

HEMMER: Members of the modern male-only Swiss Guard must be Catholic, between 19 and 30 years old, at least 5'7", have military training, be single, and, of course, be Swiss. New recruits are sworn in every May, the date chosen to commemorate a battle in which a large number of Swiss Guards died defending the Vatican.

ALLEN: Low pay and long hours, but obviously the proximity to the pope and the opportunity to be on the inside of one of the world's most fascinating institutions is a pretty powerful draw.

HEMMER: The colorful uniforms date back to the 16th century. Legend has it they were designed by Michelangelo.

ALLEN: These guys aren't simply, you know, like the guy wearing the Mickey Mouse suit at Disneyland. I mean, these guys are trained military and police professionals.

HEMMER: The elite guard may also be the world's smallest army. Despite an assassination attempt against the pope in 1981, the small security detail appeared fitting for John Paul II's personality.

ALLEN: This pope has always prized contact with humanity. He wants the least filter possible between himself and the people he obviously loved so much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: And they will have it an enormous job again tomorrow, helping keep the security in line for the funeral.

Down there on St. Peter's Square, we've been watching the scene now for hours. Setting up a multitude of chairs, thousands that we can see from our position here. And still the mourners file on by again at this hour.

Back to the Vatican in a moment. But here's Soledad again in New York.

And good morning back there, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Thank you very much, Bill.

Let's get right, in fact, to Jack Cafferty. He's got a look at the "Question of the Day" this morning.

Good morning again.

CAFFERTY: Thanks, Soledad.

Lawmakers in Florida approving a bill this week that allows a gun owner to shoot an attacker at home or on the street in self-defense. It's called the Stand Your Ground bill, and no longer requires a person to retreat before defending themselves.

The question this morning is should it be legal for Florida residents to open fire when they perceive a threat?

Greg in Colorado writes, "What? If someone thinks I looked at them funny and they perceive that as a threat they can shoot me and it's OK? How stupid can these lawmakers be?"

"Oh, wait, it's Florida. The 2000 election, Elian Gonzalez, Terri Schiavo, and now legalized murder. Can't wait to visit."

Michelle, in New York writes, "Halloween is going to be interesting."

Tony in Illinois writes, "This law should really help boost tourism. Perhaps a government study concerning mass quanties of sunshine, sand, orange juice and mobile homes and their combined influence on sanity is in order."

We've gotten a lot of mail about Jane Fonda being here. I wanted to read you this one form Matt in St. Charles, Missouri... "I was privileged to listen to Jane Fonda 35 years ago pontificating on Radio Hanoi over my tiny portable radio between the blast of North Vietnamese artillery shells exploding all around my buddies and me. Everyone should be able to hear a traitor in real speak at least once so they'll always know what treason really means. Thank you for giving more people that opportunity today."

O'BRIEN: Interesting feedback.

CAFFERTY: A lot of mail like that.

O'BRIEN: Really?

CAFFERTY: There are a lot of people that never forgave her, probably never will.

O'BRIEN: Yes. I think that is fair to say. All right, Jack. Thanks.

CAFFERTY: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Just ahead this morning, some breaking health news. The FDA is calling for withdrawal of a popular painkiller and seeking the strongest warning for another drug as well. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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