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Pope Celebrates Mass at Nationals Park; Polygamist Child Custody Case Begins

Aired April 17, 2008 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

POPE BENEDICT XVI: In the context, I acknowledge the pain which the church in America has experienced as a result of the sexual abuse of minors. No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse. It is important that those who have suffered be given loving attention.
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The significance, of course, is on the eve of this trip, a lot of people were wondering whether the pontiff would really make very much direct mention of this sexual abuse crisis. Would it just be a passing mention? Obviously, this is now the third time essentially on this trip he has talked about the crisis.

The first one was on Shepherd One. His plane, Shepherd One, it went from Rome to Andrews Air Force Base. He talked to reporters about the pain many people in America suffered. He spoke about it last night when he met with the U.S. bishops in Washington. Again, to address it in his homily, it shows this pope realizes there's still a lot of healing in America that has to be done, Fred.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: I wonder, Ed, based on those that you are close to, sitting close to, whether you have gotten an opportunity to hear from them personally. What do they feel that those words from the pope will indeed promote the kind of healing, the moving forward, if you will, to borrow his words, that he asked for in the Catholic Church?

HENRY: It is interesting. I spoke to some Catholics here attending mass before the mass. I don't want to interrupt them during the mass. They were divided. There were some Catholics were telling me they didn't think that the mass would be the right time to address the crisis. He's already addressed it in his remarks last night and that this was a time for celebration.

There were other Catholics who told me they felt this was a critical moment. That he should mention it in the homily. There's divide among some Catholics. The bottom line is that the pope made the call on his own, undoubtedly with guidance from other elders in the church. That this is such a painful episode, this is not just emotionally scars, but financially.

Many parishes closed under the weight of lawsuits and it has been a very, very damaging scandal, obviously, for the church in much America. This pope realizes the church has a lot of work to do, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Ed Henry, thank you so much -- Tony. TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's bring in Reverend James Martin. He is a New York based Jesuit and author. He's the new editor of "America" magazine.

Father Martin, great to talk to you again. Couple of points I want to take up with you. The message of encouragement from the pope to renew your Catholic faith. The world needs your witness, this is a time of great promise, and even as we see signs of a disturbing breakdown of society, organizations, increased violence, and a forgetfulness of the church and Christ. Quite a message there.

REV. JAMES MARTIN, EDITOR, AMERICA MAGAZINE: Sure is. And, you know, he is very interested in reminding people that sometimes frequently that the faith is counter cultural to use the theological circle that even though the culture around us professes just a difficulty with the dealing with human dignity they, the Catholic church and Catholics more broadly need to stand up for the gospel. The public is reminding people of sometimes the difficulty of the gospel and difficulty of proclaiming the Christian message.

HARRIS: As we watch Holy Communion, I'm curious, Father Martin, I was talking to Fred about this a couple of moments ago I want to take it up with you. Where does this rank, you think, as a religious experience and even a potential in the moments with the pope for a moment of transcendence?

MARTIN: Well I think for the people that are there, as many people noting, this is something that would be familiar to them. From their Sunday masses. But there is something special in celebrating mass along with the successor to St. Peter. Catholics during the mass are reminded of the unbroken tradition that comes from Jesus who celebrated first mass traditionally.

Here you have the opportunity to be with the person who is the successor to St. Peter. And so it is as another -- adds another dimension to the celebration of the mass and also it reminds people of the universality of the church.

HARRIS: Father Martin, if you would hang on for just a moment here.

WHITFIELD: Eucharistic prayer beginning now. The breaking and blessing of the bread and wine.

POPE BENEDICT XVI: Blessed are you, lord, God of all creation. Father, look with kindness on the gifts we bring to your altar. We ask this through Christ our lord. The lord be with you.

CROWD: And also with you.

POPE BENEDICT: Lift up your hearts.

CROWD: We lift them up to the lord.

POPE BENEDICT XVI: Let us give thanks to the lord our God.

CROWD: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

POPE BENEDICT XVI: Father, all powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks. You give your gifts of grace for every time and season as you guide the church in the marvelous ways of your providence. You give us your holy spirit to help us always by his power, so that with loving trust we may turn to you in all our troubles, and give you thanks in all our joys, through Jesus Christ our lord. In our joy we sing to your glory with all the choirs of angels.

CROWD: Holy, holy, holy, lord heaven and father are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord Hosanna in the highest.

POPE BENEDICT XVI: Father, you are holy indeed. From east to west, a perfect offering may be made through the glory of your name. Father, we bring you these gifts and ask you to make them holy by the power of your spirit so it may become the body and blood, our lord Jesus Christ. We celebrate this Eucharist.

On the night he was betrayed, he took bread and gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples and said take this all of you and eat it. This is my blood which will be given up for you.

When supper was ended he took the cup, again, he gave us thanks and praise. Gave the cup to his disciples and said, take this all of you and drink from it. This is the cup of my blood. Everlasting could havens in. It will be for you and all so sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.

CROWD: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

POPE BENEDICT XVI: Father, calling to mind the death your son endured for our salvation, his glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven, and ready to greet him when he comes again, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.

Look with favor on your church's offering, and see the victim whose death has reconciled us to yourself. Grant that we, who are nourished by his body and blood, may be filled with his holy spirit, and become one body, one spirit in Christ.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May he make us an everlasting gift to you and enable us to share in the inheritance of your saints. With Mary, the virgin mother of God, the apostles, the martyrs, and all your saints, on whose constant intercession we rely for help.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lord, may this sacrifice, which has made our peace with you, advance the peace and salvation of all the world. Strengthen in faith and love your pilgrim church on earth. With the clergy and the entire people your son has gained for you. Father, hear the prayers of the family you have gathered here before you. In mercy and love unite all your children wherever they may be. Welcome into your kingdom our departed brothers and sisters, and all who have left this world in your friendship.

POPE BENEDICT XVI: We hope to enjoy for ever the vision of your glory, through Christ our lord, from whom all good things come. Through him, with him, in him, through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty father, for ever and ever.

CROWD: Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen.

POPE BENEDICT XVI: Let us pray with confidence to the father in the words our savior gave us. Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom and the power and glory are yours now and forever

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom, where you live for ever and ever.

Amen. The peace of the lord be with you always.

CROWD: And also with you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

WHITFIELD: All right, the liturgy of the Eucharist. This is the most powerful moment of mass for those practicing Catholics. A priest in the archdiocese of Miami is back with us now.

Reverend, if you could just help us step by step understand everything that's taken place from the prayer and the blessing, the bread, and the wine, the prayer that took place there and the passing of peace to your neighbor.

MARTIN: Well, the most important thing is to remember that Jesus did this at the Last Supper. The church celebrates this every time we have mass. He took the bread and said the blessing, broke it. This is my body, the consecration is what we call it.

Also there's another element involved. It is that you see that immediately following the consecration, there are prayers that are being said this unite us with the whole church, the pope, people in heaven. We pray for the deceased, those who have died. The Eucharistic prayer is central to liturgy of the Eucharist and Catholics and kneel. We believe that Jesus becomes really present in his body, his blood, divinity a very sacred moment. We are hearing "the lamb of God" in Latin. It says basically Jesus offered himself as the Lamb of God, sacrifice for our salvation.

WHITFIELD: Alongside to the right of the pope is Father Donald Rural (ph), the archbishop of D.C. if you are able to -- maybe if you can get into his head and explain to us what this must feel like for him, to be in the company of the pope here at this moment where earlier he did the opening remarks and it really was something to see, the way his -- he was looking face to face to the pope as opposed to looking out at the mass there, at the crowd.

Any idea what he must be feeling like to be in the company of the pope?

MARTIN: The host bishop is always someone very special, the one that says, you know, come together. We are going to choose this place and celebrate this mass here. The archbishop must feel very happy to be here.

WHITFIELD: OK, Reverend. We are going to listen to the pope, the breaking of the bread here.

HARRIS: You know, I just need to be clear about it. Growing up in a Baptist church, this is Holy Communion. OK, we are speaking the same language.

Reverend Martin joining us again from New York.

Reverend Martin, it is great to have you with us to walk us through this tremendous celebration of mass this morning. I have to ask you, I have been watching the pope for the last couple of hours. I'm just sort of curious how is the pope holding up in your view?

MARTIN: He looks great. I think he makes a great pastor anywhere. It is interesting. Speaking as a priest, this is a very moving moment for the priest himself and for the bishop, for the pope. You know, what happens, you are giving out communion and one of the ideas is we are all the body of Christ.

When you see people come up and receive communion, you realize that you are not only giving out the body of Christ but you are encountering the body of Christ, the church. I find at this point in this is a very moving reminder of the universality of the church and of the presence of Christ and all the people that are here.

HARRIS: This is at the -- the sacrament, the moment that links us as humans to -- to God, correct?

MARTIN: Well, sure. And Catholics believe that they are receiving the real body of Christ. And Christ is present in four ways in the mass. In the priest, in the assembly, the congregation, and in the word. The gospel that they proclaim. Most especially in the Eucharist. At this point Catholics are very aware of what they are receiving. It is a wonderful theology. You receive the body of Christ and the body of Christ has food, nourishes you and becomes part of you. It is not only a moving experience to come up and meet the pope and see the pope but it is even more of a moving experience to come up and receive the body of Christ.

WHITFIELD: Father Martin, clearly there 46,000 people in this stadium. He will not be giving communion to everybody. But there are a lucky 50 in this arena get this personal receipt of bread and wine from the pope. I can't imagine what that must feel like for the parishioners.

MARTIN: I can't either. It is something I have always wanted to do and never had the hunt to do. I would add that everyone in the stadium right now is, in fact, receiving from the pope. Because the pope consecrated the bread and even though he is not physically handing it out to everyone, really everyone participating in this wonderful to, you know, use good words, communion. Which is really another level of understand this, wonderful sacrament.

WHITFIELD: Which is an extremely remarkable feat p to carry out in this arena.

MARTIN: Well, I think just logistically it is. But apparently they have done lots and lots of preparation. They have hundreds of priests that are going to be spanned you on everywhere. A few years ago, I gave mass in Lourdes the way they identify priests there is with a big umbrella over their heads. You feel like a flower with bees around you. There are those umbrellas identifying the priest. So that the communicants can find them more easily.

HARRIS: And Father Martin, I'm looking at the scene, we are talking about 46,000 people in a huge baseball stadium. And you know, it strikes me that this is one of the reasons that we seek religion in our lives, in this extreme and seeking for this experience that we experience this holy. Is a sense of a, the meaning for our life and to explain the unknown. But also this idea of community.

MARTIN: I think that's a great point. I think that's something that people often forget today when often people say I'm spiritual but I'm not religious. Being religious means being part of an organization. We are by nature as the pope pointed out the other day social animals. We live to the, we are in relationships with one another.

And we worship together. And so worshipping together in this wonderful sacrament I think just intensifying people's understanding of themselves as part of the body of Christ and related to God and relating to God as a community. And that's one of the pope's lasting messages.

WHITFIELD: This reach is extraordinary because this is not just the 46,000 that are in the stadium. This is being broadcast on so many networks. The pope is reaching out to people at home, who are unable to be in this arena right here. What do you suppose this does, does it help reignite the fervor into the Catholic Church? Does it indeed as the pope reiterated during his homily, he is hopeful that this will reignite an interest in the Catholic Church for so many people that have strayed?

MARTIN: I hope so. You know, I remember as a young boy seeing Paul VI and John Paul II on TV and they would bless the crowd, we would fall on our knees and bless ourselves. I know there is a lot of people that can't there be today in Washington or won't be able to be there in New York. But who feel that they are participating in this mass. I hope that it does get people to think more clearly and more deeply about the attraction of the Christian faith. And to go to an earlier point that it is a come natural celebration. And that we really are all together the people of God.

HARRIS: You know something else that strikes me as I look at these pictures and think back on the homily. A couple of moments the pope inviting you, your families, to trust in the power of grace. It is one of the paths of liberation in religion, isn't it, the path of trust in the almighty?

MARTIN: Yes, it is. And we believe that God is inviting us to meet god every moment of our lives. And grace is God's self- communication to us. And the pope is saying that it is not just a situation where you meet God during communion or you meet God when you are seeing the pope or even when you are in church.

You are meeting God in your family and work relationships and in your prayer, really in every moment of the day. And so I think part of being receptive to that grace just being aware of it and the pope is reminding us to be aware of it is a wonderful invitation, I think to recommit ourselves to God and also to be open to the signs of God's presence in our lives.

WHITFIELD: It is difficult to estimate because of how many people are in this stadium and the modified version to which communion is taking place here. But this seems like an exercise that's going to take hours.

MARTIN: Yes. I first heard that it was going to be 10, 15 minutes. I thought, boy, communion is 10, 15 minutes my parish on Sunday.

HARRIS: Let me ask you, for your general impressions of the homily. Some takeaways for you.

MARTIN: Well, I think people will focus on the mention of the secular Christ and as John Allen said and I agree with him, for a people who many people who thought was not going to address this issue the fact that he addressed this first to reporters, one audience on his plane, and second to the bishop last night, another audience, and third, to the faithful, really shows that, you know, whether or not you think he is going far enough, he is addressing it.

As a priest, it is interesting that he did something very difficult. He used all three of the readings and tried to tie them together into the wonderful message of hope. So he shows once again that he is a very gifted preacher and, of course, a brilliant theologian.

WHITFIELD: He really has been described by so many, father, as being a traditionalist, but at the same time, a trendsetter. In what way do people mean that?

MARTIN: Well, he's a traditionalist. Any Catholic, I think, is a traditionalist because you are talking about tradition that reaches back to the time of Christ and apostles. That's the first thing. But as an innovator, he understands that Christian message always has to be made real to the modern world. And so he's speaking of very modern phenomena. So, for example, the sexual abuse crisis, the disillusion of families, the difficulty in preaching the Christian message in a secularist and materialist world.

So those are ways that he's trying to innovate or, as theologians like to say, to actualize the gospel to make it real today, which is really the task for any priest at any time during the church.

WHITFIELD: Do you think it's fair that comparisons are still being made between he and Pope John Paul II? I mean, clearly, it's only been barely three years, but as people continue to try to get to know this pope, the comparisons are still being made. Is it fair in your view?

MARTIN: Well, it's inevitable, I think. Pope John Paul was pope for so long. In fact, I've met a lot of young people for whom John Paul was the only pope. So it's inevitable that Benedict will be compared to him.

But I think this trip shows that he's a very different kind of man and a very different kind of pope, which makes sense. Because he just has a different kind of personality.

John Paul was a great actor and a great public figure. And this man is much more of a scholar as we know him now. And is also a much quieter and, I think, sort of more introverted man. So the comparisons are inevitable. But you know, Benedict had a big pair of red shoes to fill.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Well, that's funny you said that. Because you know, style. Even in his fashion statement, Pope Benedict apparently makes a statement. He really likes the kind of more ornate, even though still traditional, you know, vestments. But he goes for the more ornate kind of look.

MARTIN: Yes, he does. He's quite the clothes horse. And he loves sort of reminding people of the traditional vestments of the church.

So last night, for example, at the bishops' meeting, he was resplendent in this gold coat, the great cape. And even wore a white silk mozzetta, which is kind of a short cape. So this is one way of him expressing his personality but also him reminding people of the great history of the church and the ritual and tradition and symbolism that goes along with these vestments.

HARRIS: I understand he loves the Prada shoes, too. Just -- just what I -- what I've heard.

WHITFIELD: I think that's not true, right? I hear that's been dispelled.

HARRIS: Has it really?

WHITFIELD: That they aren't Prada.

MARTIN: That's right. Apparently, they're made by some simple cobbler somewhere up in the Alps.

HARRIS: I am so glad you're here, Fred.

OK, Father Martin, if you would, stay with us. We're about to take a quick break. And Fred, as well.

Look, a question when we come back for you both to think about. I thought a moment that read to me, resonated to me, as a bit of a lament from this pope in his homily, talking about divisions and polarization in the church: "Too many inclined to embrace truths in conflict with the teaching of the church."

Let's take a break. We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Live pictures right now. Communion for more than 40,000 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., bathed in sun and music.

The Reverend James Martin is a New York-based Jesuit and author. He is back with us now.

This is an extraordinary moment. Just as we were anticipating, wow, how does this communion for 45,000 take place within the predicted 15 minutes, actually take place? And it looks like they just might be wrapping up this communion.

Well, Reverend, is this the homily, is this the mass that you expected? And is this what the Catholic Church, what the American people needed now? Particularly on this pope's first visit to the U.S.?

MARTIN: Well, I think part of the homily was expected, in the sense that he spoke a great deal about hope. He obviously talked about the gospel readings.

But by the same token, I think people were surprised, again, that he brought up the sex abuse crisis. And I was very gratified that he did, because this was his opportunity to speak to the faithful directly about the abuse crisis. So I think that was something of a surprise for, once again, Catholics in the United States who may not have thought that he was going to bring up the topic at all during his trip. But this is the third time.

So I think he did a wonderful job of the homily, tying it together with the theme of hope, as well as mentioning some pain in the church.

WHITFIELD: And he spoke directly to individuals, saying, "It's up to you individuals to help foster this healing and reconciliation." But this was -- these were words that perhaps were directed at the Catholic Church as a whole, as well.

Our Ed Henry underscoring earlier, so many diocese have really suffered financially from the blows of the sexual abuse cases, as has the reputation of the church as a whole. How will the pope's words really help re-inject a kind of hope or faith in the Catholic Church when so many have been hurt and so many have been terribly bruised?

MARTIN: Well, it's a very difficult thing to do. You know, he talked last night to the bishops, asking them to do their part. And now he's saying that the Catholic faithful have to help one another heal. Obviously, they're not the ones that were responsible, but they are asked to bring healing and reconciliation.

So I think any time that the pope speaks, you know, he's speaking, you know, for the entire church to these poor victims. And to offer a message of hope and reconciliation. It has to help, if in a small way. It's not the end of the healing, but it may be another step towards healing this horrible -- these horrible crimes.

WHITFIELD: And this has been incredibly orchestrated to underscore the diversity of the Catholic Church. We have heard so many languages. We've heard lots of different types of music. This really does show kind of a unification of this church, doesn't it? In this country.

MARTIN: Well, it really does. You know, I'm always amazed as a Catholic, you know, I celebrate mass in New York City. And it's mostly an Anglo parish. And for example, I go out to Los Angeles every year to give talks, and I'm always amazed that that church out there is mainly Hispanic and Vietnamese.

And you go on to other parts of the country, and it's all sorts of different races and colors and languages. And you go overseas, and you realize just the incredible diversity of the church.

And so it's also a wonderful way of kind of connecting us to people around the country and also overseas, as well. That we're all brothers and sisters in this church and beyond.

WHITFIELD: Extraordinary. Father James Martin, thank you so much for your insight throughout the past hour and a half.

MARTIN: My pleasure.

WHITFIELD: It has been an extraordinary journey. Hasn't it?

LEMON: Father, thank you. It's been terrific.

WHITFIELD: Well, Pope Benedict certainly has a full schedule for his remaining days here in the United States. Tonight he meets with representatives of other religions. That event is being held at Pope John Paul II Cultural Center.

And then tomorrow he travels to New York, where he addresses the United Nations General Assembly.

And then on Saturday, he's still not done. He celebrates mass at St. Patrick's cathedral in New York.

And Sunday, he'll be visiting the Ground Zero. He'll be meeting with 9/11 survivors and some of the families of those killed in the terror attack. And then later, on Sunday, he celebrates mass. Yankee Stadium is the venue in that case.

HARRIS: yes.

WHITFIELD: Really is extraordinary over his six days here in the U.S. And if you'd like to know more about Pope Benedict's life or see pictures and videos from his trip to America, check out CNN.com. You can also send and share your I-Reports of the pope while he is here. All that at CNN.com/pope.

HARRIS: And you know, Fred, there's another story that we certainly don't want to lose sight of today. It's a massive child custody case unfolding, actually, this hour in Texas. At stake, the fate of 416 children from a polygamist compound.

Our Ed Lavandera is at the county courthouse in San Angelo, Texas.

Ed, has that hearing started yet?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, it has started, and we're off to an incredibly slow start. State -- state attorneys are now asking for DNA samples of all the parents inside the polygamist compound, as well as psychiatric evaluations of the children, as well. And as soon as those requests were made, imagine when you've nearly 400 attorneys involved, the objections started flying.

And it has really slowed everything down, I think to somewhat of a little bit of a dismay of the judge in the case, who's clearly already frustrated with the amount of objections that the attorneys have been filing.

Just to get into the courthouse this morning, you can see the statue right behind me. The line of attorneys to get into the building reached the statue. Probably about 50 yards or so worth of attorneys showing up here this morning.

And of course, about two dozen members of the families, from the polygamist sect, also showing up here this morning to watch these proceedings, which will take a considerable amount of time.

In fact, many of these attorneys just arriving in town. We spoke with one who represents a 2-year-old child, as she was going into the courtroom, who said she'd only had a chance to meet briefly with her client, a 2-year-old child. Clearly, not old enough to give her any kind of valuable information. And at this point, the attorney also described how difficult it's been just figuring out the initial details in this case and being able to represent this 2-year-old child.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUSAN HAYS, ATTORNEY: It's difficult to get the facts of the case when I don't have the typical documentation you'd have on a family. I don't have access to a father. I don't have access to any kind of records that may exist. I think CPS has them. I don't know yet.

Right now we're going on -- representing very, very young children who can't speak for themselves yet or speak at all, in some cases. We're going on what we know from the mothers and what we know from the court files. And we'll find out more when the hearing starts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: Many of the family members of these children who have been showing up here continue pleading for their children to be returned. They feel they're being unfairly targeted, although we anticipate many of the state lawyers will be arguing today that, when they went into this compound almost three ago, looking for a 16-year- old girl who they believe that made a call, alleging that she had been raped by an elder member of this sect, that they say they have not found -- they have found enough evidence in there and have enough evidence to prove that all of these children are at risk of abuse, and that's why all of them should be put in foster homes. That's what this hearing is for.

HARRIS: Wow.

LAVANDERA: The judge must decide here in the next couple of weeks if these children will be moved into foster homes or returned back to their family members.

HARRIS: Boy, the DNA samples alone, you know, when you think about that, we are clearly just getting started here. Ed Lavandera for us this morning. Ed, appreciate it. Thank you.

WHITFIELD: And of course, we continue to watch what's taking place in the nation's capital at Nationals Park there. Placido Domingo, world-renowned operatic tenor there. We know Pope Benedict XVI -- you know this by now -- he loves opera. So he is now being bathed in beautiful music from the tenor.

We're going to take a short break. Much more on the pope's visit to the United States right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Right there at Nationals Park, the apostolic blessing taking place live right here. Extraordinary moments, too, that took place during our break. Right before we went to the break, tenor Placido Domingo was singing. And there's a moment that took place after he finished singing.

HARRIS: Isn't that terrific?

WHITFIELD: Kneeling, kissing the hand of the Pope Benedict. I would love to know what the words are that are being exchanged right there. But extraordinary moment.

We're going to go right back live now.

POPE BENEDICT XVI: ... the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. May it bless you and give you the gift of the spirit forever. May that fire reach over hold over deceit with its tongues of flame (ph), burn out all anger from your hearts and make them glow with pure light. God inspires each in different terms to proclaim one peace. May strength in your faith and your hope of seeing him face to face.

May almighty God bless you, the father and the son and the Holy Spirit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The mass is ended. Go in peace.

(MUSIC)

WHITFIELD: The ending of what has been an historic and nearly two-hour mass. Fairly typical of a Sunday mass.

HARRIS: Is that true? OK.

WHITFIELD: But there was nothing typical -- in terms of the lapse of time. But certainly nothing typical about this setting before 46,000 parishioners there, if you will. Being -- being collected from all parts of the country, all lucky enough to get a ticket through their churches to attend this incredible mass.

HARRIS: Yes. I've got to tell you. I was -- I was struck, in watching this, by the sense of community. And we were talking to Father Martin about it a short time ago, the sense that you can take. Maybe there is something in the sacraments. Maybe there is something in -- that was in the homily itself, the stillness that Ed Henry referred to.

But it was wonderful to sit here and, even from this distance and this vantage point, feel that sense of community, the bringing together of 46,000 people into this sense of community. It was terrific to watch.

WHITFIELD: It really was. And the pope underscored the diversity of the Catholic Church, and that really was showcased today. Everything from hearing the different tongues, you know, during the creed that was spoken. We heard Korean; we heard Japanese.

HARRIS: That's true.

WHITFIELD: We heard the music of Native Americans. We saw Nigerians and heard the tongue from a Nigerian woman there. It was just extraordinary. And the pope himself speaking English throughout most of the homily. But then speaking to the Latino community...

HARRIS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: ... speaking in Spanish. The Hispanic community a very sizable makeup of the Catholic American community of 70 million.

HARRIS: I am also struck by the enormity of event. What -- the show that travels with the pope. And then, when you get an opportunity to hear him speak, as many Catholics in this country maybe are hearing him speak for the first time. How soft the voice is and how he is a soft-spoken man and how that manner of speaking draws you in.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Which is really extraordinary, because he's known to be very shy.

HARRIS: And everything else around is so huge.

WHITFIELD: So huge. I mean, this is greatness here.

HARRIS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: And just look. And let's appreciate the moment of how many people here are in his company. Whether you're ten feet, you know, or a thousand feet away of when you're in this stadium, you feel close. And that's extraordinary, too, this spontaneous moment of just touching the hand of the pope.

HARRIS: The other idea that, in all of this size and -- again, huge stadium, a baseball stadium, 46,000 people -- in all of the circumstance, have we mentioned the wonderful music?

WHITFIELD: Beautiful music.

HARRIS: Have we mentioned the wonderful music?

WHITFIELD: And he loves music. We learned today.

HARRIS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: He's an accomplished pianist for those of you are learning now, like I was for the first time today, that he is an accomplished pianist. And he really embraces all the opera...

HARRIS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: ... that he's been able to hear. And... HARRIS: And not where it was going when I started that thought, but...

WHITFIELD: Yes, OK.

HARRIS: I just -- I heard the music and had to comment on it, because...

WHITFIELD: Beautiful music.

HARRIS: But again, the enormity of the event and the idea, as John Allen mentioned to you, that this a lot (ph) here. And that for Catholics this is a time to pray, to worship, and to be in the presence of God in this huge amphitheater. Look at this.

WHITFIELD: And that's cute, the young boy. Let me just touch his shoulder.

HARRIS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Anything will do at this point.

HARRIS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Extraordinary.

HARRIS: How is he holding up, in your view?

WHITFIELD: Well, he's 81.

HARRIS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Celebrated his 81st birthday yesterday. And this man is vigorous. And he has an incredible schedule, one that he helped craft. And because he knows he can endure it, he can handle it. We saw the energy of Pope John Paul II, as well.

HARRIS: That's right. That's right.

WHITFIELD: Even though -- you know, we spoke earlier, spoke with Father Martin, talking about, you know, maybe there's some frustration, or maybe it's just the reality that this pope, he's only been in it three years.

HARRIS: That's right.

WHITFIELD: He's been -- constantly being compared to Pope John Paul II. But this is a different man.

HARRIS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: This is a different context. And we're seeing that today. But he is equally energetic and vigorous, as well.

HARRIS: You know, you think that there may come a moment in time, maybe events might create a moment, that real bonding moment when Catholics and non-Catholics, because of events in the world, may look maybe to Vatican City for a sense of reassurance. You -- you know how world events happen. You sit up here every day, and we watch them unfold before our very eyes.

That perhaps there is a moment down the road -- who knows? -- in the not too distant future or how far in the future, where this pope will have that opportunity. To speak the words -- maybe as he did on this trip when talking about the sex abuse scandal -- where there will be that galvanizing moment when he does begin to really present his true heart, self, and personal face to Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

WHITFIELD: I kind of think by virtue of the job title, you know, that it happens. I mean, the pope naturally always has a finger on the pulse of world issues, and is never reticent about speaking out about that.

HARRIS: Isn't that the truth.

Why don't we listen in?

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