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American Morning
Developing Countries Disappointed in Choice of Pope
Aired April 20, 2005 - 08:30 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: Half past the hour, 8:30 here in New York. Good morning, everybody. Good to have you along with us today. I'm Bill Hemmer.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Costello, in for Soledad this morning.
Coming up, the election of Cardinal Ratzinger as pope is bringing some disappointment to Catholics in the third world. In a few minutes, we'll get reaction from Nigeria, where many people were hoping their cardinal would have been chosen.
HEMMER: Also in a moment here, the government's new food pyramid is out. A little more complicated. Sanjay's going to help us figure out what we need to know, so we'll get to that in a moment here.
Also from the Vatican, two very special guests are coming up here in a moment.
COSTELLO: Very special.
HEMMER: Mystery guests here on AMERICAN MORNING.
COSTELLO: They are so cute.
HEMMER: Minutes away, too. We'll get to them in a moment.
COSTELLO: Before we get to them, though, let's get another check of the headlines with Valerie Morris.
VALERIE MORRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And once again, hi to both of you. And good morning, everyone.
"Now in the News," terror suspect Zacarias Moussaoui could soon plead guilty to helping al Qaeda. He is scheduled to meet with a U.S. district judge today. The judge must decide whether Moussaoui is mentally competent to enter such a plea. Moussaoui is the only person in the United States charged in connection with the September 11th terror attacks.
BTK suspect Dennis Rader is set for arraignment next month. Rader waived his right to a preliminary hearing while in court Tuesday. He's accused of killing at least ten people over the last three decades. Rader is expected to plead not guilty.
The Florida Senate is debating its version of the Jessica Lunsford act. The measure passed the Florida house Tuesday. The proposed law is named after the 9-year-old girl abducted and killed last month. It would set up a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life in prison for people convicted of molesting children under the age of 12.
And President Bush is urging lawmakers to cut U.S. dependence on foreign oil. The president is set to discuss his energy policy in a speech this afternoon. Dan Bartlett, a counselor to the president, talked to us about the administration's stance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN BARTLETT, COUNSELOR TO PRESIDENT BUSH: Of course the administration is concerned about rising gas prices. That's why President Bush has talked about an energy plan for the last three and a half years. And what President Bush will argue is it's time for Congress to stop debating and get a bill to his desk. In fact, he'll call on Congress to get a bill to his desk this summer, which will be an important signal to send, as that is the peak driving season for Americans all across the country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORRIS: And the president's address comes as the House debates an $8 billion energy bill. A vote is expected this week. That's the very latest.
HEMMER: All right, Valerie, thanks.
COSTELLO: Thanks, Valerie.
Catholics around the world celebrating the new pope this morning. The thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square Tuesday cheered the announcement. You hear them there. They were especially excited in Germany, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's home country. But many Catholics in the developing world are disappointed an African or a Latin American cardinal did not become pope. Latin America, as you know, has the largest number of Catholics, topping 400 million, and more than 120 million Catholics live in Africa. The African continent is also the church's fastest growing flock. Central and South America are second and third, respectively.
For more reaction to the new pope, let's head to Lagos. Bureau chief Jeff Koinange -- he joins us now via video phone from Nigeria. Jeff, what's the sentiment there to Pope Benedict XVI?
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, you can just say it's a mixed bag. From Kenya to South Africa, and even here in Nigeria, there were impromptu celebrations, impromptu mass services. And people overall are happy because they see Pope Benedict XVI as a continuation of Pope John Paul II.
However, Carol, and this we must note, here in Nigeria, a bit of disappointment. People here hoping that favorite son, Cardinal Francis Arinze, would be picked for that top job. He was a frontrunner, according to many experts. He didn't get the job. Some Nigerians openly saying that the world is just not ready for an African bishop. But at the end of the day, they say, it's not man who determines the selection of the pope, it is the holy spirit. They are resigned to that fact and they welcome this appointment -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jeff Koinange, live this morning, thank you.
HEMMER: Carol, there were tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square for the white smoke and introduction of the new pope. We looked very hard at some videotape overnight to try and find two very special Americans in St. Peter's.
Say good morning to Mr. and Mrs. Hemmer, Georgeanne and Bill. I call them mom and dad. How you guys doing? Bonjourno.
GEORGEANNE HEMMER, BILL HEMMER'S MOTHER: Bonjourno, son.
BILL HEMMER, SR., BILL HEMMER'S FATHER: I'm fine, Billy.
HEMMER: Now, listen, tell me this. You guys were in the square yesterday, right, when the smoke came out?
G. HEMMER: Right.
B. HEMMER, SR. We were by the left fountain, facing the basilica.
HEMMER: Now, mom, when that smoke came out, did you know they had a new pope?
G. HEMMER: Oh, no, we jumped the gun the night before and we all knew that we better not -- we better be a little patient.
HEMMER: I gotcha.
G. HEMMER: It was very difficult.
HEMMER: Looks like that wind's kicking you guys around pretty good over there, by the way.
G. HEMMER: It's beautiful day. The bells starting.
HEMMER: What was the reaction from the people around there in St. Peter's Square?
B. HEMMER, SR.: Oh, yelling, screaming, kissing, hugging.
G. HEMMER: Crying.
B. HEMMER, SR.: Crying. It was real neat. From the left, there were columns where the priests kept pouring in. I don't know where they came from. Very young priests. And I don't know how they kept getting into the square, it was so crowded. I didn't know where they were putting them.
HEMMER: Hey, Mom, what were you two doing then?
G. HEMMER: What, dear? HEMMER: What were you doing then?
G. HEMMER: Oh, well, I was standing on top of the trestle. You know, they have these wood things, fences. And I was -- so I could see. But we were waiting for the bells to ring, and I said to dad I think they forgot the bells. And it was like ten minutes later, and then the bells started ringing and the people...
B. HEMMER, SR.: Just went crazy.
G. HEMMER: I don't know where they came from. It was just like mosquitoes coming in.
HEMMER: Mosquitoes in the Vatican. All right, dad, now, the new pope comes out, and what happens then. The place just goes crazy or what?
B. HEMMER, SR.: Just goes crazy. They didn't want him to leave. The priest group right to our left kept screaming "viva, viva, viva!" More life. And it was ecstasy. It was just fantastic.
HEMMER: Hey now, so have you guys ever felt so Catholic in all your life?
G. HEMMER: I've never felt so proud to be Catholic. I am just walking on clouds.
B. HEMMER, SR.: It was so good so good to be here. I don't know why we were privileged to be here at this time. It was fantastic.
HEMMER: So -- go ahead, Mom. Sorry about that.
G. HEMMER: Did you see his smile?
HEMMER: Yes, I did.
G. HEMMER: Pope Benedict's smile?
HEMMER: Yes, we did. All right, so here's I'm thinking now. I'm thinking you guys go to Rome for the conclave. This is like good for two free passes into heaven.
B. HEMMER, SR.: I hope.
G. HEMMER: I don't know.
B. HEMMER, SR.: We need one, I know.
G. HEMMER: Now we've got to practice what we preach.
HEMMER: All right, well, save room for me, too.
G. HEMMER: Take care, guys.
HEMMER: You got it.
G. HEMMER: Hello to Jack and Carol and it's great.
B. HEMMER, SR.: This is beating a way to using a phone call to call you back.
G. HEMMER: Yes, this is free!
HEMMER: Yes, it is. We'll charge CNN for it. Hey, listen, we got to run. You need to say one more thing, Mom? Is that right?
G. HEMMER: Yes. Did you see the way, like, he went like this?
HEMMER: Yes, we saw it.
G. HEMMER: Like, we did it. We've made it, we're going to make it.
B. HEMMER, SR.: Like Rocky.
G. HEMMER: Like Rocky.
HEMMER: Hey, you guys travel well. Get home safe. And there's some really good shopping in Italy, by the way.
B. HEMMER, SR.: She has been there to every store, Billy.
HEMMER: I'm certain she has. Thanks, mom and dad. Get home safe. Talk to you later.
G. HEMMER: Love you.
HEMMER: Bye-bye. Love you too.
COSTELLO: They were so darling. How darling. You look just like your mom.
HEMMER: Well, thank you.
COSTELLO: Exactly like your mom.
HEMMER: A beautiful woman. 45 years of marriage, Carol. That's what you get at the end of 45 years, you go to the Vatican and hang out.
COSTELLO: And see the new pope. That's great. I like the name under your dad was Bill Hemmer, Bill Hemmer's father. Like we didn't know.
HEMMER: He's insistent -- there are no juniors and seniors in our family. There are no ones, twos or threes. It's just Bill. Thanks, mom and dad.
COSTELLO: Oh, they were darling. Well, the faithful call it a miracle. Skeptics say it's a salt stain. Nevertheless, a steady stream of the faithful and curious are flocking to a Chicago freeway underpass. Take a look at that now. See those markings there? Some people say they really look like the Virgin Mary. The Illinois Department of Transportation say it's likely the result of a salt run- off, but it has no plans to scrub it off. Right next to that by the way, is "Go Cubs."
HEMMER: Well, they could use the prayers in Chicago, too, the way that team's been playing.
One of the most popular stories on cnn.com right now, an enormous iceberg, 100 miles long, 40 miles wide, bumping into Antarctica. The so-called bump knocked off a chunk of ice three miles square. The iceberg so big it's been blocking supply ships from getting to research stations on Antarctica now, just as winter is setting in. Some ships have gotten through. No getting in or out, though, during the harsh winter, and no sunlight until the end of August. Pretty tough going there, this time of year.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: I was thinking about the next story, because it's confusing. Remember when the government said obesity was one of the biggest killers in America? Well, it turns out that may have been a bit of an overstatement. We'll try to explain why.
HEMMER: Also, Dr. Gupta stops by explaining the whole transformation of the food pyramid. We'll get to the good doctor in a moment. What you should be eating now, we're told.
Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: We're "Paging Dr. Gupta" now about a new government- issued guide to healthy eating. Yet another one.
As Sanjay tells us, when it comes to nutrition, one size no longer fits all.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The golden arches of McDonald's turned 50 this month. The government's food pyramid didn't even make it to 15 years. Health experts say each in its own way may share some responsibility for the growing waistlines of American adults and children.
McDonald's and some other fast-food restaurants have responded by adding new low-fat choices to their menus. And now the food pyramid, which was one size fits all, is changing as well.
First, there were just four food groups. Now there are 12 individually tailored models. The one thing all the pyramids have in common, a focused us on exercise. A little staircase on the side of the pyramid makes the look more like a rhombus or a trapezoid. Four years and $2.4 million later, the USDA has even provided color coding.
Are they getting help from the department of homeland security?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Raise the national threat level.
GUPTA: There is orange for grains, green for vegetables, red for fruits, blue for milk, purple for meat, beans and protein, and yellow, the narrowest band, for oils.
DENISE AUSTIN, PRESIDENT'S PHYSICAL FITNESS/SPORTS COUNCIL: As we know, it's all about eating right and exercising. They truly go hand in hand, to maintain good health and to maintain your weight. It's all about calories in and calories out.
GUPTA: The old pyramid was based on carbohydrates, then vegetables and fruits, followed by dairy, and then finally fats and oils. The new guidelines recommend 13 servings of fruit and vegetables daily and a larger focus on whole grains.
You can even go directly to the USDA Web site and get your own individually tailored plan. I did it, and waited and waited for about 10 minutes. Here is what I was told, nine ounces of grains, five pieces of whole wheat bread and two cups of pasta would do the trick, 3.5 cups of vegetables, two cups of fruit, three cups of milk and 6.5 ounces of meat and beans. Take that list to McDonald's.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Take that list -- who eats that much? Maybe Sanjay does, I don't know. Agricultural Secretary Mike Johan (ph) says the new pyramid will help consumers understand how to put nutrition recommendations into action.
Here's another study for you, Carol. It says being overweight is not nearly as deadly as the government thought. The CDC finds that obesity accounts for about 26,000 deaths every year in the U.S., considerably fewer than the previous estimate of 365,000. This makes obesity the seventh leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. That study appears in today's "Journal of the American Medical Association."
Health officials trying to slow the spread of Hepatitis A. An outbreak in Tennessee as they look for its source there. Thousands of people who ate at a waffle house in Clinton, Tennessee are being asked to get preventative shots after a worker there was found to have the virus. Health officials say the employee is not the cause, though, of this outbreak.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY BENTON, WAFFLE HOUSE CUSTOMER: I think we should know, you know, they should already know, where it's coming from.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Seventeen case of Hepatitis A confirmed so far. The virus rarely is fatal, but it can make people sick for months, though. Good luck there. COSTELLO: Certainly can. Wow.
Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, Andy Serwer's "Minding Your Business. He'll explain why the U.S. mint is about to start selling a piece of golden history. That's next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right, here's Jack.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Before we get to the business news, very nice segment with your parents.
HEMMER: Yes.
CAFFERTY: I was particularly taken of note of the question you asked them, if their trip was to the Vatican conclave was their ticket into heaven. Raising you was their ticket into heaven. They had it punched for a long time ago. They are fast tracked right to the golden gates when it's time. Very nice to see them.
HEMMER: Great folks, 45 years of marriage.
CAFFERTY: Yes, that's good.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: That is, yes.
CAFFERTY: All right. Now, the American mint going for the gold. Web hawkers race to make a buck on the new pope and some worrisome econ numbers. Those stories and more. A check on the markets. Andy Serwer has it all, "Minding Your Business."
SERWER: A potpourri of business news this morning. We'll start with the pope, shall we? The forces of commerce already hard at work. We've had the pope less than 24 hours, the new pope, and guess what? They're selling stuff on eBay. A lot of stuff, 68 items about Pope Benedict XVI. It is hard to say. OK, let's start off with what we've got here, the signed photo, bidding starting at $7.99. The street sign. There we go. I don't know why you'd put that. He's the only one who will need that. $14.95. The fridge magnet. That's something yes, for $3.30...
CAFFERTY: It's disgraceful.
SERWER: Well, it's commerce.
This is what's really amazing. Now listen to this, this is truly amazing. Over at amazon.com, eight of the top 20 selling books this morning are authored by the new pope.
COSTELLO: Wow.
SERWER: Number 7, number 8, number 13 number 14. You get the point. And actually interesting, Jack Welch's book is number 12.
CAFFERTY: Is that right? SERWER: Yes, so he's sort of in the middle.
CAFFERTY: So that's pretty rarefied air he's breathing there. He's got the current pope, the old pope, and Jack.
SERWER: Yes, it's quite a little group we've got there.
All right, let's switch over to coins. I didn't know this. You know those American eagle gold coins? They're not pure. They're not pure enough for gold bugs out there. They're only 22 karat, and gold bugs want 24-karat coins, so the U.S. mint is going to make American eagle coins more pure; 22 karat coins are 91.6 percent gold; 24 karat gold coins are 99.99 percent pure. In other countries like Austria, Australia, Mexico and Singapore have the real pure ones, and people who like gold coins have been shunning American eagle coins for these other coins. So the U.S. mint is going to come out with a purer coin.
CAFFERTY: What about inflation?
COSTELLO: Inflation came out worrisome this morning, Jack. Consumer prices up 0.6 percent in March. And the core, which you take out the energy, up 0.4 percent. Economists expected much less than that. So futures are down. We're watching the markets. Not happy about that news.
CAFFERTY: All right, thanks for that potpourri.
COSTELLO: Yes, a potpourri.
CAFFERTY: Wednesday, time for things people say, starting with this, "I don't think Wisconsin should become known as a state where we shoot cats." Governor Jim Doyle saying that he will not approve a proposal in his state for citizens to kill feral cats." We asked that question here on AMERICAN MORNING last week, whether cat hunting in Wisconsin should be legal. Most of you said no, and a lot of you apparently called the governor's office, because the next day they said it ain't going to happen.
"Do you want us to come over and shoot her?" Mike Forbes (ph), a 911 dispatcher in Texas, who was reprimanded for his response to a woman who called to report her 12-year-old daughter had kicked a whole in a wall.
COSTELLO: It was a joke.
SERWER: I not.
CAFFERTY: I want to know if he's still on the government payroll.
"Completely snowed, blindsided, stupid, naive. I was just enamored and pulled in. When he wants to pull you in, he'll pull you in." Lisa Marie Presley talking about her marriage to the strange one, Michael Jackson.
"The other day I was walking to a restaurant and there were photographers in front and they took a picture of me, and I asked what's going on? And they said, we're waiting for Britney." David Duchovny, former star of the TV show "X Files," feeling a little left out.
"And finally this, our belly buttons aren't pretty and we can't dance. All we can do is sing and play these instruments." That's Don Henley of The Eagles, comparing his legendary, albeit aging band, to the likes of Britney spears, during a recent concert here in New York.
SERWER: He looks like a CEO in that picture.
CAFFERTY: But those guys can make music.
SERWER: I saw that show, and I heard him say that, and the crowd roared when he said that.
CAFFERTY: And by the way, he was quite an attractive man at one point. Not that he's not now.
SERWER: I was going to say, Carol, wow.
COSTELLO: Sorry, but back in the day, he was something.
CAFFERTY: Note to the Eagles, carol don't think you got it going on anymore. You did have a day, but it ain't today.
SERWER: Don Henley was going to invite you to the next party, but it's not happening.
COSTELLO: I'm in so much trouble.
Just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING, how much is name recognition worth? for one would-be politician, it's a whole lot of trouble. That is if you have the same name as super freak. We'll explain just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired April 20, 2005 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Half past the hour, 8:30 here in New York. Good morning, everybody. Good to have you along with us today. I'm Bill Hemmer.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Costello, in for Soledad this morning.
Coming up, the election of Cardinal Ratzinger as pope is bringing some disappointment to Catholics in the third world. In a few minutes, we'll get reaction from Nigeria, where many people were hoping their cardinal would have been chosen.
HEMMER: Also in a moment here, the government's new food pyramid is out. A little more complicated. Sanjay's going to help us figure out what we need to know, so we'll get to that in a moment here.
Also from the Vatican, two very special guests are coming up here in a moment.
COSTELLO: Very special.
HEMMER: Mystery guests here on AMERICAN MORNING.
COSTELLO: They are so cute.
HEMMER: Minutes away, too. We'll get to them in a moment.
COSTELLO: Before we get to them, though, let's get another check of the headlines with Valerie Morris.
VALERIE MORRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And once again, hi to both of you. And good morning, everyone.
"Now in the News," terror suspect Zacarias Moussaoui could soon plead guilty to helping al Qaeda. He is scheduled to meet with a U.S. district judge today. The judge must decide whether Moussaoui is mentally competent to enter such a plea. Moussaoui is the only person in the United States charged in connection with the September 11th terror attacks.
BTK suspect Dennis Rader is set for arraignment next month. Rader waived his right to a preliminary hearing while in court Tuesday. He's accused of killing at least ten people over the last three decades. Rader is expected to plead not guilty.
The Florida Senate is debating its version of the Jessica Lunsford act. The measure passed the Florida house Tuesday. The proposed law is named after the 9-year-old girl abducted and killed last month. It would set up a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life in prison for people convicted of molesting children under the age of 12.
And President Bush is urging lawmakers to cut U.S. dependence on foreign oil. The president is set to discuss his energy policy in a speech this afternoon. Dan Bartlett, a counselor to the president, talked to us about the administration's stance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN BARTLETT, COUNSELOR TO PRESIDENT BUSH: Of course the administration is concerned about rising gas prices. That's why President Bush has talked about an energy plan for the last three and a half years. And what President Bush will argue is it's time for Congress to stop debating and get a bill to his desk. In fact, he'll call on Congress to get a bill to his desk this summer, which will be an important signal to send, as that is the peak driving season for Americans all across the country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORRIS: And the president's address comes as the House debates an $8 billion energy bill. A vote is expected this week. That's the very latest.
HEMMER: All right, Valerie, thanks.
COSTELLO: Thanks, Valerie.
Catholics around the world celebrating the new pope this morning. The thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square Tuesday cheered the announcement. You hear them there. They were especially excited in Germany, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's home country. But many Catholics in the developing world are disappointed an African or a Latin American cardinal did not become pope. Latin America, as you know, has the largest number of Catholics, topping 400 million, and more than 120 million Catholics live in Africa. The African continent is also the church's fastest growing flock. Central and South America are second and third, respectively.
For more reaction to the new pope, let's head to Lagos. Bureau chief Jeff Koinange -- he joins us now via video phone from Nigeria. Jeff, what's the sentiment there to Pope Benedict XVI?
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, you can just say it's a mixed bag. From Kenya to South Africa, and even here in Nigeria, there were impromptu celebrations, impromptu mass services. And people overall are happy because they see Pope Benedict XVI as a continuation of Pope John Paul II.
However, Carol, and this we must note, here in Nigeria, a bit of disappointment. People here hoping that favorite son, Cardinal Francis Arinze, would be picked for that top job. He was a frontrunner, according to many experts. He didn't get the job. Some Nigerians openly saying that the world is just not ready for an African bishop. But at the end of the day, they say, it's not man who determines the selection of the pope, it is the holy spirit. They are resigned to that fact and they welcome this appointment -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jeff Koinange, live this morning, thank you.
HEMMER: Carol, there were tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square for the white smoke and introduction of the new pope. We looked very hard at some videotape overnight to try and find two very special Americans in St. Peter's.
Say good morning to Mr. and Mrs. Hemmer, Georgeanne and Bill. I call them mom and dad. How you guys doing? Bonjourno.
GEORGEANNE HEMMER, BILL HEMMER'S MOTHER: Bonjourno, son.
BILL HEMMER, SR., BILL HEMMER'S FATHER: I'm fine, Billy.
HEMMER: Now, listen, tell me this. You guys were in the square yesterday, right, when the smoke came out?
G. HEMMER: Right.
B. HEMMER, SR. We were by the left fountain, facing the basilica.
HEMMER: Now, mom, when that smoke came out, did you know they had a new pope?
G. HEMMER: Oh, no, we jumped the gun the night before and we all knew that we better not -- we better be a little patient.
HEMMER: I gotcha.
G. HEMMER: It was very difficult.
HEMMER: Looks like that wind's kicking you guys around pretty good over there, by the way.
G. HEMMER: It's beautiful day. The bells starting.
HEMMER: What was the reaction from the people around there in St. Peter's Square?
B. HEMMER, SR.: Oh, yelling, screaming, kissing, hugging.
G. HEMMER: Crying.
B. HEMMER, SR.: Crying. It was real neat. From the left, there were columns where the priests kept pouring in. I don't know where they came from. Very young priests. And I don't know how they kept getting into the square, it was so crowded. I didn't know where they were putting them.
HEMMER: Hey, Mom, what were you two doing then?
G. HEMMER: What, dear? HEMMER: What were you doing then?
G. HEMMER: Oh, well, I was standing on top of the trestle. You know, they have these wood things, fences. And I was -- so I could see. But we were waiting for the bells to ring, and I said to dad I think they forgot the bells. And it was like ten minutes later, and then the bells started ringing and the people...
B. HEMMER, SR.: Just went crazy.
G. HEMMER: I don't know where they came from. It was just like mosquitoes coming in.
HEMMER: Mosquitoes in the Vatican. All right, dad, now, the new pope comes out, and what happens then. The place just goes crazy or what?
B. HEMMER, SR.: Just goes crazy. They didn't want him to leave. The priest group right to our left kept screaming "viva, viva, viva!" More life. And it was ecstasy. It was just fantastic.
HEMMER: Hey now, so have you guys ever felt so Catholic in all your life?
G. HEMMER: I've never felt so proud to be Catholic. I am just walking on clouds.
B. HEMMER, SR.: It was so good so good to be here. I don't know why we were privileged to be here at this time. It was fantastic.
HEMMER: So -- go ahead, Mom. Sorry about that.
G. HEMMER: Did you see his smile?
HEMMER: Yes, I did.
G. HEMMER: Pope Benedict's smile?
HEMMER: Yes, we did. All right, so here's I'm thinking now. I'm thinking you guys go to Rome for the conclave. This is like good for two free passes into heaven.
B. HEMMER, SR.: I hope.
G. HEMMER: I don't know.
B. HEMMER, SR.: We need one, I know.
G. HEMMER: Now we've got to practice what we preach.
HEMMER: All right, well, save room for me, too.
G. HEMMER: Take care, guys.
HEMMER: You got it.
G. HEMMER: Hello to Jack and Carol and it's great.
B. HEMMER, SR.: This is beating a way to using a phone call to call you back.
G. HEMMER: Yes, this is free!
HEMMER: Yes, it is. We'll charge CNN for it. Hey, listen, we got to run. You need to say one more thing, Mom? Is that right?
G. HEMMER: Yes. Did you see the way, like, he went like this?
HEMMER: Yes, we saw it.
G. HEMMER: Like, we did it. We've made it, we're going to make it.
B. HEMMER, SR.: Like Rocky.
G. HEMMER: Like Rocky.
HEMMER: Hey, you guys travel well. Get home safe. And there's some really good shopping in Italy, by the way.
B. HEMMER, SR.: She has been there to every store, Billy.
HEMMER: I'm certain she has. Thanks, mom and dad. Get home safe. Talk to you later.
G. HEMMER: Love you.
HEMMER: Bye-bye. Love you too.
COSTELLO: They were so darling. How darling. You look just like your mom.
HEMMER: Well, thank you.
COSTELLO: Exactly like your mom.
HEMMER: A beautiful woman. 45 years of marriage, Carol. That's what you get at the end of 45 years, you go to the Vatican and hang out.
COSTELLO: And see the new pope. That's great. I like the name under your dad was Bill Hemmer, Bill Hemmer's father. Like we didn't know.
HEMMER: He's insistent -- there are no juniors and seniors in our family. There are no ones, twos or threes. It's just Bill. Thanks, mom and dad.
COSTELLO: Oh, they were darling. Well, the faithful call it a miracle. Skeptics say it's a salt stain. Nevertheless, a steady stream of the faithful and curious are flocking to a Chicago freeway underpass. Take a look at that now. See those markings there? Some people say they really look like the Virgin Mary. The Illinois Department of Transportation say it's likely the result of a salt run- off, but it has no plans to scrub it off. Right next to that by the way, is "Go Cubs."
HEMMER: Well, they could use the prayers in Chicago, too, the way that team's been playing.
One of the most popular stories on cnn.com right now, an enormous iceberg, 100 miles long, 40 miles wide, bumping into Antarctica. The so-called bump knocked off a chunk of ice three miles square. The iceberg so big it's been blocking supply ships from getting to research stations on Antarctica now, just as winter is setting in. Some ships have gotten through. No getting in or out, though, during the harsh winter, and no sunlight until the end of August. Pretty tough going there, this time of year.
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COSTELLO: I was thinking about the next story, because it's confusing. Remember when the government said obesity was one of the biggest killers in America? Well, it turns out that may have been a bit of an overstatement. We'll try to explain why.
HEMMER: Also, Dr. Gupta stops by explaining the whole transformation of the food pyramid. We'll get to the good doctor in a moment. What you should be eating now, we're told.
Back after this.
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COSTELLO: We're "Paging Dr. Gupta" now about a new government- issued guide to healthy eating. Yet another one.
As Sanjay tells us, when it comes to nutrition, one size no longer fits all.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The golden arches of McDonald's turned 50 this month. The government's food pyramid didn't even make it to 15 years. Health experts say each in its own way may share some responsibility for the growing waistlines of American adults and children.
McDonald's and some other fast-food restaurants have responded by adding new low-fat choices to their menus. And now the food pyramid, which was one size fits all, is changing as well.
First, there were just four food groups. Now there are 12 individually tailored models. The one thing all the pyramids have in common, a focused us on exercise. A little staircase on the side of the pyramid makes the look more like a rhombus or a trapezoid. Four years and $2.4 million later, the USDA has even provided color coding.
Are they getting help from the department of homeland security?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Raise the national threat level.
GUPTA: There is orange for grains, green for vegetables, red for fruits, blue for milk, purple for meat, beans and protein, and yellow, the narrowest band, for oils.
DENISE AUSTIN, PRESIDENT'S PHYSICAL FITNESS/SPORTS COUNCIL: As we know, it's all about eating right and exercising. They truly go hand in hand, to maintain good health and to maintain your weight. It's all about calories in and calories out.
GUPTA: The old pyramid was based on carbohydrates, then vegetables and fruits, followed by dairy, and then finally fats and oils. The new guidelines recommend 13 servings of fruit and vegetables daily and a larger focus on whole grains.
You can even go directly to the USDA Web site and get your own individually tailored plan. I did it, and waited and waited for about 10 minutes. Here is what I was told, nine ounces of grains, five pieces of whole wheat bread and two cups of pasta would do the trick, 3.5 cups of vegetables, two cups of fruit, three cups of milk and 6.5 ounces of meat and beans. Take that list to McDonald's.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Take that list -- who eats that much? Maybe Sanjay does, I don't know. Agricultural Secretary Mike Johan (ph) says the new pyramid will help consumers understand how to put nutrition recommendations into action.
Here's another study for you, Carol. It says being overweight is not nearly as deadly as the government thought. The CDC finds that obesity accounts for about 26,000 deaths every year in the U.S., considerably fewer than the previous estimate of 365,000. This makes obesity the seventh leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. That study appears in today's "Journal of the American Medical Association."
Health officials trying to slow the spread of Hepatitis A. An outbreak in Tennessee as they look for its source there. Thousands of people who ate at a waffle house in Clinton, Tennessee are being asked to get preventative shots after a worker there was found to have the virus. Health officials say the employee is not the cause, though, of this outbreak.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY BENTON, WAFFLE HOUSE CUSTOMER: I think we should know, you know, they should already know, where it's coming from.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Seventeen case of Hepatitis A confirmed so far. The virus rarely is fatal, but it can make people sick for months, though. Good luck there. COSTELLO: Certainly can. Wow.
Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, Andy Serwer's "Minding Your Business. He'll explain why the U.S. mint is about to start selling a piece of golden history. That's next on AMERICAN MORNING.
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HEMMER: All right, here's Jack.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Before we get to the business news, very nice segment with your parents.
HEMMER: Yes.
CAFFERTY: I was particularly taken of note of the question you asked them, if their trip was to the Vatican conclave was their ticket into heaven. Raising you was their ticket into heaven. They had it punched for a long time ago. They are fast tracked right to the golden gates when it's time. Very nice to see them.
HEMMER: Great folks, 45 years of marriage.
CAFFERTY: Yes, that's good.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: That is, yes.
CAFFERTY: All right. Now, the American mint going for the gold. Web hawkers race to make a buck on the new pope and some worrisome econ numbers. Those stories and more. A check on the markets. Andy Serwer has it all, "Minding Your Business."
SERWER: A potpourri of business news this morning. We'll start with the pope, shall we? The forces of commerce already hard at work. We've had the pope less than 24 hours, the new pope, and guess what? They're selling stuff on eBay. A lot of stuff, 68 items about Pope Benedict XVI. It is hard to say. OK, let's start off with what we've got here, the signed photo, bidding starting at $7.99. The street sign. There we go. I don't know why you'd put that. He's the only one who will need that. $14.95. The fridge magnet. That's something yes, for $3.30...
CAFFERTY: It's disgraceful.
SERWER: Well, it's commerce.
This is what's really amazing. Now listen to this, this is truly amazing. Over at amazon.com, eight of the top 20 selling books this morning are authored by the new pope.
COSTELLO: Wow.
SERWER: Number 7, number 8, number 13 number 14. You get the point. And actually interesting, Jack Welch's book is number 12.
CAFFERTY: Is that right? SERWER: Yes, so he's sort of in the middle.
CAFFERTY: So that's pretty rarefied air he's breathing there. He's got the current pope, the old pope, and Jack.
SERWER: Yes, it's quite a little group we've got there.
All right, let's switch over to coins. I didn't know this. You know those American eagle gold coins? They're not pure. They're not pure enough for gold bugs out there. They're only 22 karat, and gold bugs want 24-karat coins, so the U.S. mint is going to make American eagle coins more pure; 22 karat coins are 91.6 percent gold; 24 karat gold coins are 99.99 percent pure. In other countries like Austria, Australia, Mexico and Singapore have the real pure ones, and people who like gold coins have been shunning American eagle coins for these other coins. So the U.S. mint is going to come out with a purer coin.
CAFFERTY: What about inflation?
COSTELLO: Inflation came out worrisome this morning, Jack. Consumer prices up 0.6 percent in March. And the core, which you take out the energy, up 0.4 percent. Economists expected much less than that. So futures are down. We're watching the markets. Not happy about that news.
CAFFERTY: All right, thanks for that potpourri.
COSTELLO: Yes, a potpourri.
CAFFERTY: Wednesday, time for things people say, starting with this, "I don't think Wisconsin should become known as a state where we shoot cats." Governor Jim Doyle saying that he will not approve a proposal in his state for citizens to kill feral cats." We asked that question here on AMERICAN MORNING last week, whether cat hunting in Wisconsin should be legal. Most of you said no, and a lot of you apparently called the governor's office, because the next day they said it ain't going to happen.
"Do you want us to come over and shoot her?" Mike Forbes (ph), a 911 dispatcher in Texas, who was reprimanded for his response to a woman who called to report her 12-year-old daughter had kicked a whole in a wall.
COSTELLO: It was a joke.
SERWER: I not.
CAFFERTY: I want to know if he's still on the government payroll.
"Completely snowed, blindsided, stupid, naive. I was just enamored and pulled in. When he wants to pull you in, he'll pull you in." Lisa Marie Presley talking about her marriage to the strange one, Michael Jackson.
"The other day I was walking to a restaurant and there were photographers in front and they took a picture of me, and I asked what's going on? And they said, we're waiting for Britney." David Duchovny, former star of the TV show "X Files," feeling a little left out.
"And finally this, our belly buttons aren't pretty and we can't dance. All we can do is sing and play these instruments." That's Don Henley of The Eagles, comparing his legendary, albeit aging band, to the likes of Britney spears, during a recent concert here in New York.
SERWER: He looks like a CEO in that picture.
CAFFERTY: But those guys can make music.
SERWER: I saw that show, and I heard him say that, and the crowd roared when he said that.
CAFFERTY: And by the way, he was quite an attractive man at one point. Not that he's not now.
SERWER: I was going to say, Carol, wow.
COSTELLO: Sorry, but back in the day, he was something.
CAFFERTY: Note to the Eagles, carol don't think you got it going on anymore. You did have a day, but it ain't today.
SERWER: Don Henley was going to invite you to the next party, but it's not happening.
COSTELLO: I'm in so much trouble.
Just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING, how much is name recognition worth? for one would-be politician, it's a whole lot of trouble. That is if you have the same name as super freak. We'll explain just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
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