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CNN Live Sunday
David Onstett Charged With Murder Of Sara Lunde; U.S. Aid Worker Killed In Car Bombing In Iraq
Aired April 17, 2005 - 16:00 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.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF DAVID GEE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY: He is now named as the defendant in the first degree murder case involving our victim of Sara Lunde.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: Authorities announce an arrest in the death of a 13-year-old Florida girl and offer new details about how and why she was killed.
Cardinals are just hours away from starting the process to select a new pope. What's in store for this group over the next several days?
And she dedicated her life to helping Iraqi war victims, now this young, American woman has become a victim herself.
Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. I'm Zain Verjee. All that and more after this check of the headlines.
Double duty near Baghdad today. Iraqi troops and multinational forces are searching for several Shiite citizens. Iraqi police sources say between four and six Shiites were kidnapped by Sunni insurgents from a mosque in Mehdan (ph). Other estimates put the number much higher. They are also looking for insurgents in nearby Ramadi where three U.S. soldiers killed by mortars last night.
An apparent cordial atmosphere in talks between the Indian and Pakistani leaders today. The two discussed issues for more than two hours. Among the key topics, the disputed Kashmir region. Pakistan's president Pervez Musharaff called the talks a good sign for peace between the two nations.
Leaders of the G-7 economic powers are concerned about the impact of rising oil prices on the global economy. It dominated they're talks in Washington this weekend. Finance ministers of the world's richest nations are promising vigorous action.
We begin in Florida where it's happened again for the second time in as many months, a convicted sex offender is accused of killing a girl. Sarah Michelle Lunde was last seen eight days ago. Authorities found her body yesterday in a pond not far from her home. And the man they say has confessed to killing the 13-year-old is no stranger to her family. CNN's Sara Dorsey in the girl's hometown of Ruskin, Florida -- Sara.
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Zain. He is no stranger. 36-year-old David Onstott apparently had a relationship -- an on again, off again relationship is what it's being called -- with Sara's mother. He is now charged according to the Hillsborough County sheriff with first degree murder for the killing of the 13- year-old. And the sheriff says that he did confess to the crime late last night. In a presser today, he recalled the details for the media.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEE: The defendant knocked on the door. And the victim invited him to open the door and come in. After entering the residence, the victim and defendant became involved a verbal confrontation. During the confrontation, the defendant put the victim in a choke hold, causing her to become unconscious and eventually causing her death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORSEY: The teen's body found partially clothed in an abandoned fish farm only a half mile from her home that she disappeared from last Saturday night. Law enforcement sources say the killer apparently tried to weigh down Sara's body to keep her remains under water.
Now, Onstott is currently in custody on unrelated charges and will make the first appearance on these first degree murder charges tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m.
This has been a trying time for everyone that knew Sara. She is described by outgoing and fun to be around by her friends.
This morning, a memory service was held here at First Epsic -- Apostolic Church, rather, in her honor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love Sara. And we loved her here. And, and she was a daughter to a single mother and a family, but she is also a daughter to a church and to a community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORSEY: The sheriff says an autopsy will have to be performed to determine if there was a sexual assault on this little girl -- Zain.
VERJEE: How does the investigation proceed?
DORSEY Well, from here, he will make a first appearance. And investigators will continue to collect evidence. They will be interviewing people and things like that like just they normally would.
There could also be more charges to come. The sheriff said they are looking into any additional charges. But you can bet they're collecting and sifting through the evidence because now they will have a murder case to try.
VERJEE: CNN's Sara Dorsey reporting.
Now, overseas to the Vatican where the papal election process set to begin tomorrow. Many are wondering about the impact a new pope would have on the Roman Catholic Church. Will he stick with tradition? Or open up the church to progressive changes? Our Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci talks to parishioners.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): On this Sunday, Maria Laura (ph) begins her first day as a Catholic, a day before the catholic church begins its first day of choosing a new leader.
And as the world wonders who the next pope will be, the Parishioners of All Saints Church in one of Rome's working class suburbs are asking themselves whether this could be the man.
Baby Maria Laura (ph) is being baptized by Walter Casper, one of the 115 cardinals who will choose the next pope. And himself a potential successor to John Paul II.
It is not important that the next pope is like John Paul II, says the baby's mother. He was a great pope, but you cannot replicate him. The new one will have different qualities and should be charismatic in his own way.
During his homily, Casper shared with his flock some of issues that will challenge John Paul's successor, including making the church more appealing to young people and the need for greater power sharing between Rome and the diocese around the world.
In a brief interview before mass, he said no single candidate has yet emerged.
WALTER CASPER, CATHOLIC CARDINAL: There is a lot of changes to face. And it will not be easy to find the right person who can respond to all the problems.
VINCI: Worshipers around Rome hope their wishes will be taken into account in the voting, even if some may be a very long shot.
In some way, I would like more openness on the topic of birth control, says this woman. Especially because of sexually transmitted diseases.
Several cardinals familiar with ongoing debate over the next pope say another serious problem for the church is a dwindling number of priests. During his last homily before the beginning of the conclave, Cardinal Wilford Napier of South Africa urged the young to consider a career in the church.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Since we are going to be electing a pope in this coming week, I'm praying that some of of you will be priests so that next time there's a conclave, you may be one of the candidates.
VINCI (on camera): But for now, all eyes are on this conclave in which cardinals expected to be influenced not just by the issues at hand, but also, by the holy spirit.
Alessio Vinci, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: The cardinals moved into their sequestered lodgings in the Vatican today. Tomorrow, they'll enter the Sistine Chapel as the age old election process begins known as a conclave begins. There's much speculation about who they might pick.
Earlier I spoke to our Vatican analyst John Allen about all the guessing and who the next pope would not be.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ALLEN, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: Well, you know, whether it's fair or not, people are obviously going to do it. I mean, actually, jokingly in the press corps here, many of us have talked about doing a bottom five list this week. You know, the men least likely to be elected pope.
I think one thing I'm prepared to say about that with certainty about that in terms of who it will not be is that if we want to talk about nationalities, pretty sure the next pope is not an American. This is no prejudice to the American cardinals who are fine men, but I think the Vatican takes its diplomatic independence far too seriously to elect a pope from the world's lone superpower. So, you know, I think we can probably exclude that.
Beyond that, though, I have to say, you know, despite the press blackout that's been in place over the last week and a half, we have been able on background to speak to a number of cardinals and quite frankly, I think the race is wide open.
I mean, one of the really unique things about this conclave is that it's really a first conclave in which at least in the early stages the Italians have not be in in control. It is really the entire college of cardinals under 80, the 115 men trying to elect the next pope making it much more complex and much more fluid exercise.
VERJEE: How the cardinals preparing themselves?
ALLEN: Well, I mean, officially they have been having meetings every day called general congregation meetings. And essentially the way this works is that each cardinal gets a 7-minute turn at bat sort to speak to talk about the issues facing the church as he sees them. Many of them have been talking about their local situations. So the cardinals from Africa have been talking about what it means to try to lead the Catholic Church in Africa. Cardinals from Latin American doing the same, from Asia, from Western Europe and so on.
Unofficially, at least some of the cardinals have been getting together and in the monastial (ph) seminaries where they stay or in religious institutions in Rome or in other venues in sort of twos and threes and tens and twenties to try to sort of hash issues and talk a little bit about candidates.
One the problems, though, Zain is that because there are 115 cardinals, some of whom don't know one another very well, you have an inner group of cardinals who are quite plugged in who are taking part in these many conversations. And a kind of second group of cardinals who aren't as well-known and aren't as well, sort of wired in terms of what's going on who, therefore, haven't had the same opportunity to make their voices heard.
And what all that means is that as the cardinals arrive in the Casa Santa Marta (ph) tonight, that's the hotel on Vatican grounds where they're staying, it will be the first opportunity for all of them informally to sit down and talk things out.
VERJEE: How long can the conclave last? Is it possible to predict?
ALLEN: Well, you know, theoretically it could go on almost indefinitely. As you probably know, the longest conclave in history was two years and nine months in the 13th Century. But I don't think anyone is expecting it that long this time.
You know, most cardinals say that they would like a conclave that is neither too short or too long. Too short, that is, a day or day and a half might create the appearance that they rushed to judgment, not really adequately thought though the possibilities.
One that was too long, say, longer than five days, would risk the impression that they're divided. And, you know, the cardinals don't want it to look like the pope elected just by a faction. He has to be everyone's pope and they want it to appear and they want it to be, of course, that the pope elected by a genuine consensus. So, most cardinals say the ideal thing would be a conclave of three or four days.
Of course, the problem is if they are not clear on candidates and divisions emerge, they may simply not be able to get the work done in that shortened amount of time.
VERJEE: The balloting itself in the Sistine Chapel is choreographed quite elaborately, isn't it? Tell us a little bit about it.
ALLEN: Well, they begin this work tomorrow afternoon. The cardinals have the option of being a ballot on the first day or not. If things hold to form, they probably will. And then beginning Tuesday morning, they do two ballots each morning, two in every afternoon.
And this isn't a simple matter of the dean of the college, Joseph Ratzinger, saying hands up, you know, how many people were cardinal x. It is a much more stylized process than that. Each cardinal is instructed to write the candidate to vote for whom he wishes to vote on a piece of paper that has the words "I elect for the supreme pontiff" and then a blank -- he writes the name in. He is instructed to disguise his handwriting so that no one can tell for whom he voted.
And then each cardinal in order of seniority will process up to the table in front of that fresco by Michelangelo "the Last Judgment" in the Sistine Chapel, pick up a silver paten (ph), that is a small plate. Put the ballot on this plate. And then dip it into an urn. This is a kind of I guess you could say shaped like a wok. A kind of oval-shaped bowl in which the ballots are collected. And each one, as I say, does this individually.
And then there's a very elaborate process for counting them where three cardinals will count each ballot and then another three check that count to make sure it's accurate. So a ballot can take something on the order of an hour and a half to do. So holding two ballots is actually an entire morning or afternoon's work.
VERJEE: John Allen, our Vatican analyst and also author of the book "Conclave," thank you.
ALLEN: Sure thing, Zain.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: Pope John Paul II had the respect of Catholics around the world, but not all agreed with his opinions. Later this hour, one American congregation and its traditions that don't follow those of the Vatican.
She was there to help. Instead, an American aid worker becomes a victim of the war in Iraq. We'll take a look at her remarkable contributions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is what's great about Ellis Island, this is a place about people, about the populating of this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VERJEE: And, a walk through history. The island where millions have taken their first steps toward becoming Americans celebrating a milestone.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VERJEE: A costly attack for American forces in Iraq. Insurgents fired mortar rounds to U.S. military camp near Ramadi overnight killing three U.S. soldiers, seven other soldiers were wounded, three seriously.
Iraqi troops, backed by U.S. forces, are intensifying the search for Shias reportedly kidnapped by Sunni insurgents. The Shias were apparently snatched on Saturday from the village of Mehdan (ph) that South of Baghdad.
There are conflicting reports on the number of hostages. Sources tell CNN there's as many as six, other reports number in the dozens.
Hostage taking drew concern during a national assembly meetings today. One member who lives in Mehdan (ph) District called the situation there extremely dangerous. He urged the assembly to intervene.
She dedicated her life to helping Iraqi war victims and now, a young American woman herself has become a victim in Iraq. Marla Ruzicka, the founder of Campaign for Innocent Victims of Conflict was killed in an apparent insurgent attack on her convoy in Baghdad yesterday. CNN's Jane Arraf has more on the woman and her remarkable contributions that will be long remembered.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Marla Ruzicka had a knack for making friends and a passion for helping the helpless. She combined the two to found an organization to help civilian victims of war.
I first met her in Afghanistan three years ago. When major combat ended in Iraq, she came here to Baghdad.
MARLA RUZICKA, CAMPAIGN FOR INNOCENT VICTIMS OF CONFLICT: Instead of watching the terrible images and being depressed, one, it is sad. You are always sad. But trying to figure out what can we do? How can we help people?
ARRAF: She could have stayed in California, but she spent the time in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Jalalabad, she met a woman who made her realize what she needed to do.
RUZICKA: She lost both of her eyes, both of her arms, legs were broken, her whole family was just wiped out. And then when they turned her over and literally blood spilled out of her, she said, what are you going to do to help us? And I thought, well naturally, the U.S. should have a fund to help people that get hurt.
ARRAF: So, she hit the streets working her way through war torn Baghdad to find out where she could get help.
RUZICKA: I'm frustrated. Because I go to the HOC (ph), I go to the CPA and I'm just like, who do I talk to? And nobody knows.
ARRAF: When she wasn't on the street, she was working the phones.
RUZICKA: Hello, Major Doyle (ph). I just wanted to thank you so much yesterday for meeting with us.
ARRAF: She convinced U.S. lawmakers to appropriate money for civilian victims of U.S. military campaigns. Marla saw more suffering in a day than most people ever do and still kept her sunny disposition. On this trip, we went with her to visit Nazhira Mohammed Brisin (ph) who had lost eight members of her family when a missile hit their car. As the car burned, this child's mother threw her and her baby sister out the window to save them.
Marla told American soldiers the baby would die if she weren't air lifted to a hospital.
RUZICKA: We tried to get her immediate medical help and to save her life and we did, but her body couldn't take the burns.
ARRAF: She set up a project with 150 volunteers to do a survey of civilian victims. They weren't hard to find.
RUZICKA: And we have about 5,000 cases not necessarily of deaths, but where homes were destroyed, where people were very critically injured. and, you know, for me, I try as much as I can go to families and say we're sorry, we're working to try to get you assistance and to kind of help them have some reconciliation and some closure. And to let them know that Americans do care about their well being.
ARRAF: Marla thought about the risks of working in Iraq, but she didn't let them stop her.
RUZICKA: You just have to keep your eyes open and let people know what you're doing and about and people -- I feel that a lot of people really appreciate our campaign so they take a lot of care of myself and other people that work for me.
ARRAF: At 29, Marla had lived more, done more than most people do over a long, long lifetime.
Jane Arraf, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VERJEE: You may not know it, but April 17 is an important day in history. On this date in 1907, a record number of immigrants, more than 11,000, came through Ellis Island known as America's Gate. They were taking their first steps toward becoming Americans.
Each year, millions of visitors come to Ellis Island to search for information about their ancestors and it's all available with a click of a mouse.
CNN's Alina Cho is live on Ellis Island in New York with more -- Alina.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Zain, Amazingly, 40 percent of all living Americans have at least one ancestor that came through Ellis Island, that's more than 100 million Americans who can stake that claim. 2 million visitors come to Ellis Island each year, many come to trace their roots and most are amazed at what they find.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHO (voice-over): Sandy Suiter is visiting from St. Louis. This is her first trip to New York and Ellis Island.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, first thing through the door, I told my daughter-in-law. I said, I'm going to go see if I can find Ed's parents because I heard the stories about when they came over and sure enough. I hit his -- my husband's mom and dad.
CHO: It only took five minutes on the computer at Ellis Island's family history center, a research facility for visitors who want to learn about their ancestors.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was excited. It even tells in here here that -- you know, that his dad was (UNINTELLIGIBLE) but he was a carpenter and my husband is a carpenter, my two sons are carpenters, so there's a long line of tradition and, yes -- pretty cool to see.
CHO: 12 million immigrants came through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. People like Gershon Malkin (ph), the man hold the child, who at 22 came over from Romania. Alan Caan (ph) is is Malkin's (ph) grandson. He came with his son, Nate.
(on camera): You just happened upon this family history center?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we did. We just came here to look around and just be tourists, but we didn't know that we had a personal link to what happened in these halls.
CHO (voice-over): The great hall is where each immigrant was processed.
STEPHEN BRIGANTI, PRES. ELLIS ISLAND FOUNDATION: This was one of the first government buildings that had electricity. So, for many people who arrived, they had never seen -- they've never been in a building with electricity. And there's the Statue of Liberty out that window and there are the skyscrapers of New York.
Can you imagine what it must have been like?
CHO: Stephen Briganti is the president of the Ellis Island Foundation. His own mother came over from Italy.
(on camera): How important is it that we never forget? And that we educate our children about Ellis Island?
BRIGANTI: I think as we have matured as a nation, we have gotten more and more interested in our ancestry.
CHO: Why do you think that is?
BRIGANTI: Well, I think from my standpointf, you don't know where you came from, you'll miss quite a bit of who you are.
CHO: Sandy Suiter (ph) couldn't agree more.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE; The times are so precarious right now that people need something to grab on to. And I think that past is, you know -- I mean, let's face it. I think about the World Trade Centers and it breaks my heart. I see this and it makes me smile. And I think that's why -- yes.
CHO: You're getting emotional?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I am. I'm real excited about this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: In fact, Stephen Briganti, the president of the Ellis Island Foundation, told me that he is actually seen grown men break down in tears here. He says that finding your own ancestry is a very emotional moment. And interestingly enough, you don't have to physically be here to do it. All you need is a computer, Zain and the Web site ellisisland.org.
VERJEE: CNN's Alina Cho.
Just ahead on CNN LIVE SUNDAY, anger toward the U.S. abroad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: America, America!
CROWD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VERJEE: Tension in the streets of one Asian city over U.S. support of Israel.
Also ahead, an abuse of power? House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in a fight for his political life.
And danger on the high seas. A massive wave crashes the party on a luxury cruise liner. But first, here's today's allergy report.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 17, 2005 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF DAVID GEE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY: He is now named as the defendant in the first degree murder case involving our victim of Sara Lunde.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: Authorities announce an arrest in the death of a 13-year-old Florida girl and offer new details about how and why she was killed.
Cardinals are just hours away from starting the process to select a new pope. What's in store for this group over the next several days?
And she dedicated her life to helping Iraqi war victims, now this young, American woman has become a victim herself.
Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. I'm Zain Verjee. All that and more after this check of the headlines.
Double duty near Baghdad today. Iraqi troops and multinational forces are searching for several Shiite citizens. Iraqi police sources say between four and six Shiites were kidnapped by Sunni insurgents from a mosque in Mehdan (ph). Other estimates put the number much higher. They are also looking for insurgents in nearby Ramadi where three U.S. soldiers killed by mortars last night.
An apparent cordial atmosphere in talks between the Indian and Pakistani leaders today. The two discussed issues for more than two hours. Among the key topics, the disputed Kashmir region. Pakistan's president Pervez Musharaff called the talks a good sign for peace between the two nations.
Leaders of the G-7 economic powers are concerned about the impact of rising oil prices on the global economy. It dominated they're talks in Washington this weekend. Finance ministers of the world's richest nations are promising vigorous action.
We begin in Florida where it's happened again for the second time in as many months, a convicted sex offender is accused of killing a girl. Sarah Michelle Lunde was last seen eight days ago. Authorities found her body yesterday in a pond not far from her home. And the man they say has confessed to killing the 13-year-old is no stranger to her family. CNN's Sara Dorsey in the girl's hometown of Ruskin, Florida -- Sara.
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Zain. He is no stranger. 36-year-old David Onstott apparently had a relationship -- an on again, off again relationship is what it's being called -- with Sara's mother. He is now charged according to the Hillsborough County sheriff with first degree murder for the killing of the 13- year-old. And the sheriff says that he did confess to the crime late last night. In a presser today, he recalled the details for the media.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEE: The defendant knocked on the door. And the victim invited him to open the door and come in. After entering the residence, the victim and defendant became involved a verbal confrontation. During the confrontation, the defendant put the victim in a choke hold, causing her to become unconscious and eventually causing her death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORSEY: The teen's body found partially clothed in an abandoned fish farm only a half mile from her home that she disappeared from last Saturday night. Law enforcement sources say the killer apparently tried to weigh down Sara's body to keep her remains under water.
Now, Onstott is currently in custody on unrelated charges and will make the first appearance on these first degree murder charges tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m.
This has been a trying time for everyone that knew Sara. She is described by outgoing and fun to be around by her friends.
This morning, a memory service was held here at First Epsic -- Apostolic Church, rather, in her honor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love Sara. And we loved her here. And, and she was a daughter to a single mother and a family, but she is also a daughter to a church and to a community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORSEY: The sheriff says an autopsy will have to be performed to determine if there was a sexual assault on this little girl -- Zain.
VERJEE: How does the investigation proceed?
DORSEY Well, from here, he will make a first appearance. And investigators will continue to collect evidence. They will be interviewing people and things like that like just they normally would.
There could also be more charges to come. The sheriff said they are looking into any additional charges. But you can bet they're collecting and sifting through the evidence because now they will have a murder case to try.
VERJEE: CNN's Sara Dorsey reporting.
Now, overseas to the Vatican where the papal election process set to begin tomorrow. Many are wondering about the impact a new pope would have on the Roman Catholic Church. Will he stick with tradition? Or open up the church to progressive changes? Our Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci talks to parishioners.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): On this Sunday, Maria Laura (ph) begins her first day as a Catholic, a day before the catholic church begins its first day of choosing a new leader.
And as the world wonders who the next pope will be, the Parishioners of All Saints Church in one of Rome's working class suburbs are asking themselves whether this could be the man.
Baby Maria Laura (ph) is being baptized by Walter Casper, one of the 115 cardinals who will choose the next pope. And himself a potential successor to John Paul II.
It is not important that the next pope is like John Paul II, says the baby's mother. He was a great pope, but you cannot replicate him. The new one will have different qualities and should be charismatic in his own way.
During his homily, Casper shared with his flock some of issues that will challenge John Paul's successor, including making the church more appealing to young people and the need for greater power sharing between Rome and the diocese around the world.
In a brief interview before mass, he said no single candidate has yet emerged.
WALTER CASPER, CATHOLIC CARDINAL: There is a lot of changes to face. And it will not be easy to find the right person who can respond to all the problems.
VINCI: Worshipers around Rome hope their wishes will be taken into account in the voting, even if some may be a very long shot.
In some way, I would like more openness on the topic of birth control, says this woman. Especially because of sexually transmitted diseases.
Several cardinals familiar with ongoing debate over the next pope say another serious problem for the church is a dwindling number of priests. During his last homily before the beginning of the conclave, Cardinal Wilford Napier of South Africa urged the young to consider a career in the church.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Since we are going to be electing a pope in this coming week, I'm praying that some of of you will be priests so that next time there's a conclave, you may be one of the candidates.
VINCI (on camera): But for now, all eyes are on this conclave in which cardinals expected to be influenced not just by the issues at hand, but also, by the holy spirit.
Alessio Vinci, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: The cardinals moved into their sequestered lodgings in the Vatican today. Tomorrow, they'll enter the Sistine Chapel as the age old election process begins known as a conclave begins. There's much speculation about who they might pick.
Earlier I spoke to our Vatican analyst John Allen about all the guessing and who the next pope would not be.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ALLEN, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: Well, you know, whether it's fair or not, people are obviously going to do it. I mean, actually, jokingly in the press corps here, many of us have talked about doing a bottom five list this week. You know, the men least likely to be elected pope.
I think one thing I'm prepared to say about that with certainty about that in terms of who it will not be is that if we want to talk about nationalities, pretty sure the next pope is not an American. This is no prejudice to the American cardinals who are fine men, but I think the Vatican takes its diplomatic independence far too seriously to elect a pope from the world's lone superpower. So, you know, I think we can probably exclude that.
Beyond that, though, I have to say, you know, despite the press blackout that's been in place over the last week and a half, we have been able on background to speak to a number of cardinals and quite frankly, I think the race is wide open.
I mean, one of the really unique things about this conclave is that it's really a first conclave in which at least in the early stages the Italians have not be in in control. It is really the entire college of cardinals under 80, the 115 men trying to elect the next pope making it much more complex and much more fluid exercise.
VERJEE: How the cardinals preparing themselves?
ALLEN: Well, I mean, officially they have been having meetings every day called general congregation meetings. And essentially the way this works is that each cardinal gets a 7-minute turn at bat sort to speak to talk about the issues facing the church as he sees them. Many of them have been talking about their local situations. So the cardinals from Africa have been talking about what it means to try to lead the Catholic Church in Africa. Cardinals from Latin American doing the same, from Asia, from Western Europe and so on.
Unofficially, at least some of the cardinals have been getting together and in the monastial (ph) seminaries where they stay or in religious institutions in Rome or in other venues in sort of twos and threes and tens and twenties to try to sort of hash issues and talk a little bit about candidates.
One the problems, though, Zain is that because there are 115 cardinals, some of whom don't know one another very well, you have an inner group of cardinals who are quite plugged in who are taking part in these many conversations. And a kind of second group of cardinals who aren't as well-known and aren't as well, sort of wired in terms of what's going on who, therefore, haven't had the same opportunity to make their voices heard.
And what all that means is that as the cardinals arrive in the Casa Santa Marta (ph) tonight, that's the hotel on Vatican grounds where they're staying, it will be the first opportunity for all of them informally to sit down and talk things out.
VERJEE: How long can the conclave last? Is it possible to predict?
ALLEN: Well, you know, theoretically it could go on almost indefinitely. As you probably know, the longest conclave in history was two years and nine months in the 13th Century. But I don't think anyone is expecting it that long this time.
You know, most cardinals say that they would like a conclave that is neither too short or too long. Too short, that is, a day or day and a half might create the appearance that they rushed to judgment, not really adequately thought though the possibilities.
One that was too long, say, longer than five days, would risk the impression that they're divided. And, you know, the cardinals don't want it to look like the pope elected just by a faction. He has to be everyone's pope and they want it to appear and they want it to be, of course, that the pope elected by a genuine consensus. So, most cardinals say the ideal thing would be a conclave of three or four days.
Of course, the problem is if they are not clear on candidates and divisions emerge, they may simply not be able to get the work done in that shortened amount of time.
VERJEE: The balloting itself in the Sistine Chapel is choreographed quite elaborately, isn't it? Tell us a little bit about it.
ALLEN: Well, they begin this work tomorrow afternoon. The cardinals have the option of being a ballot on the first day or not. If things hold to form, they probably will. And then beginning Tuesday morning, they do two ballots each morning, two in every afternoon.
And this isn't a simple matter of the dean of the college, Joseph Ratzinger, saying hands up, you know, how many people were cardinal x. It is a much more stylized process than that. Each cardinal is instructed to write the candidate to vote for whom he wishes to vote on a piece of paper that has the words "I elect for the supreme pontiff" and then a blank -- he writes the name in. He is instructed to disguise his handwriting so that no one can tell for whom he voted.
And then each cardinal in order of seniority will process up to the table in front of that fresco by Michelangelo "the Last Judgment" in the Sistine Chapel, pick up a silver paten (ph), that is a small plate. Put the ballot on this plate. And then dip it into an urn. This is a kind of I guess you could say shaped like a wok. A kind of oval-shaped bowl in which the ballots are collected. And each one, as I say, does this individually.
And then there's a very elaborate process for counting them where three cardinals will count each ballot and then another three check that count to make sure it's accurate. So a ballot can take something on the order of an hour and a half to do. So holding two ballots is actually an entire morning or afternoon's work.
VERJEE: John Allen, our Vatican analyst and also author of the book "Conclave," thank you.
ALLEN: Sure thing, Zain.
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VERJEE: Pope John Paul II had the respect of Catholics around the world, but not all agreed with his opinions. Later this hour, one American congregation and its traditions that don't follow those of the Vatican.
She was there to help. Instead, an American aid worker becomes a victim of the war in Iraq. We'll take a look at her remarkable contributions.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is what's great about Ellis Island, this is a place about people, about the populating of this country.
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VERJEE: And, a walk through history. The island where millions have taken their first steps toward becoming Americans celebrating a milestone.
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VERJEE: A costly attack for American forces in Iraq. Insurgents fired mortar rounds to U.S. military camp near Ramadi overnight killing three U.S. soldiers, seven other soldiers were wounded, three seriously.
Iraqi troops, backed by U.S. forces, are intensifying the search for Shias reportedly kidnapped by Sunni insurgents. The Shias were apparently snatched on Saturday from the village of Mehdan (ph) that South of Baghdad.
There are conflicting reports on the number of hostages. Sources tell CNN there's as many as six, other reports number in the dozens.
Hostage taking drew concern during a national assembly meetings today. One member who lives in Mehdan (ph) District called the situation there extremely dangerous. He urged the assembly to intervene.
She dedicated her life to helping Iraqi war victims and now, a young American woman herself has become a victim in Iraq. Marla Ruzicka, the founder of Campaign for Innocent Victims of Conflict was killed in an apparent insurgent attack on her convoy in Baghdad yesterday. CNN's Jane Arraf has more on the woman and her remarkable contributions that will be long remembered.
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JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Marla Ruzicka had a knack for making friends and a passion for helping the helpless. She combined the two to found an organization to help civilian victims of war.
I first met her in Afghanistan three years ago. When major combat ended in Iraq, she came here to Baghdad.
MARLA RUZICKA, CAMPAIGN FOR INNOCENT VICTIMS OF CONFLICT: Instead of watching the terrible images and being depressed, one, it is sad. You are always sad. But trying to figure out what can we do? How can we help people?
ARRAF: She could have stayed in California, but she spent the time in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Jalalabad, she met a woman who made her realize what she needed to do.
RUZICKA: She lost both of her eyes, both of her arms, legs were broken, her whole family was just wiped out. And then when they turned her over and literally blood spilled out of her, she said, what are you going to do to help us? And I thought, well naturally, the U.S. should have a fund to help people that get hurt.
ARRAF: So, she hit the streets working her way through war torn Baghdad to find out where she could get help.
RUZICKA: I'm frustrated. Because I go to the HOC (ph), I go to the CPA and I'm just like, who do I talk to? And nobody knows.
ARRAF: When she wasn't on the street, she was working the phones.
RUZICKA: Hello, Major Doyle (ph). I just wanted to thank you so much yesterday for meeting with us.
ARRAF: She convinced U.S. lawmakers to appropriate money for civilian victims of U.S. military campaigns. Marla saw more suffering in a day than most people ever do and still kept her sunny disposition. On this trip, we went with her to visit Nazhira Mohammed Brisin (ph) who had lost eight members of her family when a missile hit their car. As the car burned, this child's mother threw her and her baby sister out the window to save them.
Marla told American soldiers the baby would die if she weren't air lifted to a hospital.
RUZICKA: We tried to get her immediate medical help and to save her life and we did, but her body couldn't take the burns.
ARRAF: She set up a project with 150 volunteers to do a survey of civilian victims. They weren't hard to find.
RUZICKA: And we have about 5,000 cases not necessarily of deaths, but where homes were destroyed, where people were very critically injured. and, you know, for me, I try as much as I can go to families and say we're sorry, we're working to try to get you assistance and to kind of help them have some reconciliation and some closure. And to let them know that Americans do care about their well being.
ARRAF: Marla thought about the risks of working in Iraq, but she didn't let them stop her.
RUZICKA: You just have to keep your eyes open and let people know what you're doing and about and people -- I feel that a lot of people really appreciate our campaign so they take a lot of care of myself and other people that work for me.
ARRAF: At 29, Marla had lived more, done more than most people do over a long, long lifetime.
Jane Arraf, CNN, Baghdad.
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VERJEE: You may not know it, but April 17 is an important day in history. On this date in 1907, a record number of immigrants, more than 11,000, came through Ellis Island known as America's Gate. They were taking their first steps toward becoming Americans.
Each year, millions of visitors come to Ellis Island to search for information about their ancestors and it's all available with a click of a mouse.
CNN's Alina Cho is live on Ellis Island in New York with more -- Alina.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Zain, Amazingly, 40 percent of all living Americans have at least one ancestor that came through Ellis Island, that's more than 100 million Americans who can stake that claim. 2 million visitors come to Ellis Island each year, many come to trace their roots and most are amazed at what they find.
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CHO (voice-over): Sandy Suiter is visiting from St. Louis. This is her first trip to New York and Ellis Island.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, first thing through the door, I told my daughter-in-law. I said, I'm going to go see if I can find Ed's parents because I heard the stories about when they came over and sure enough. I hit his -- my husband's mom and dad.
CHO: It only took five minutes on the computer at Ellis Island's family history center, a research facility for visitors who want to learn about their ancestors.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was excited. It even tells in here here that -- you know, that his dad was (UNINTELLIGIBLE) but he was a carpenter and my husband is a carpenter, my two sons are carpenters, so there's a long line of tradition and, yes -- pretty cool to see.
CHO: 12 million immigrants came through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. People like Gershon Malkin (ph), the man hold the child, who at 22 came over from Romania. Alan Caan (ph) is is Malkin's (ph) grandson. He came with his son, Nate.
(on camera): You just happened upon this family history center?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we did. We just came here to look around and just be tourists, but we didn't know that we had a personal link to what happened in these halls.
CHO (voice-over): The great hall is where each immigrant was processed.
STEPHEN BRIGANTI, PRES. ELLIS ISLAND FOUNDATION: This was one of the first government buildings that had electricity. So, for many people who arrived, they had never seen -- they've never been in a building with electricity. And there's the Statue of Liberty out that window and there are the skyscrapers of New York.
Can you imagine what it must have been like?
CHO: Stephen Briganti is the president of the Ellis Island Foundation. His own mother came over from Italy.
(on camera): How important is it that we never forget? And that we educate our children about Ellis Island?
BRIGANTI: I think as we have matured as a nation, we have gotten more and more interested in our ancestry.
CHO: Why do you think that is?
BRIGANTI: Well, I think from my standpointf, you don't know where you came from, you'll miss quite a bit of who you are.
CHO: Sandy Suiter (ph) couldn't agree more.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE; The times are so precarious right now that people need something to grab on to. And I think that past is, you know -- I mean, let's face it. I think about the World Trade Centers and it breaks my heart. I see this and it makes me smile. And I think that's why -- yes.
CHO: You're getting emotional?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I am. I'm real excited about this.
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CHO: In fact, Stephen Briganti, the president of the Ellis Island Foundation, told me that he is actually seen grown men break down in tears here. He says that finding your own ancestry is a very emotional moment. And interestingly enough, you don't have to physically be here to do it. All you need is a computer, Zain and the Web site ellisisland.org.
VERJEE: CNN's Alina Cho.
Just ahead on CNN LIVE SUNDAY, anger toward the U.S. abroad.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: America, America!
CROWD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
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VERJEE: Tension in the streets of one Asian city over U.S. support of Israel.
Also ahead, an abuse of power? House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in a fight for his political life.
And danger on the high seas. A massive wave crashes the party on a luxury cruise liner. But first, here's today's allergy report.
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