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Japan Reeling After 7.0 Earthquake with Death Toll Now at 23; Pope Francis Lands in Lesbos, Greece; Democratic Presidential Candidates Contend in New York; Pope Francis Speaks to Refugee Camp. Aired 5-6a ET

Aired April 16, 2016 - 05:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And welcome to our viewers in the United States and indeed all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes, thanks for your company. Let's get to our top story straight away.

Japan reeling after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit Kyushu Island on Saturday. The death toll now stands at 23. The quake struck just a few kilometers from where a so-called foreshock struck two days earlier. Disaster officials saying more than 7200 people are now in shelters across the area.

Meanwhile, rescue crew scrambling to reach people trapped under all that rubble. Japan's Prime Minister just cancelling plans to visit the disaster zone. His office says instead he's going to spearhead a task force from Tokyo.

And let's go now to Samuel Bora in Kumamoto. He is a U.S. citizen currently living in Japan who felt the earthquake. Thanks for being with us and I'm sure you did feel it. Just describe to people what it was like that moment.

SAMUEL BORA, EARTHQUAKE SURVIVOR: The earthquake was, well, very, very surprising. It came at 1:30 in the morning and shook everything in the apartment. All of the dishes were broken also cracks in the walls of the apartment complex. Pretty scary stuff.

HOLMES: I'm guessing you were there for the Thursday one as well. What was the difference?

BORA: The Thursday one came around 9:30 p.m. and most everyone was out on the street just walking home from work. And that one was mostly scary because we were able to see light fixtures from the ceilings starting to fall on the main road and downtown area as opposed to here where it was just pitch black in the middle of the night and everything just started to go wild.

HOLMES: I mean, Japan does have earthquakes and, you know, in some ways, I supposed they're to be expected. But I can't imagine what these two strong earthquakes that have done so much damage, what it must do to the psyche there. I mean, how are people coping emotionally really? BORA: Everyone appears to be coping rather well. Japan has been very organized here at the elementary school shelter that I'm staying at. There's been food lines and water lines already prepared since this morning. People are spread out all throughout the school. Everyone seems to be getting along very well.

HOLMES: Yeah, and as you say, Japan, a very organized society at the best and worst of times is that that appear that everything is in hand?

BORA: Yeah, everything has been going well. They had breakfast this morning, it was soup and lunch was noodles and dinner was soup and noodles. And everything was laid out pretty quickly. There's cooks and volunteers that set up a large barbecue area and they picked everything up. But there wasn't actually enough food for everyone which is the only problem. Most of the food went to the elderly and the children first.

HOLMES: Yeah. We really appreciate you talked to us, Samuel. Samuel Bora there in Kumamoto, a U.S. citizen living there in Japan. I appreciate you talking to us.

Now let's turn to our Asia-Pacific editor Andrews Stevens, he's joining us now from Tokyo. I'm talking there to Samuel about, you know, the Japanese are very organized there at the worst of times and best of times. So what is being done now to try to get to all of the damaged buildings and try to find out who might still be trapped?

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN ASIA-PPACIFIC EDITOR: Well, their rescue parties are combing the hardest hit areas, Michael, in that prefecture, looking for people who may still be trapped in the rubble. But the Japanese government has said that it's dispatching some 20,000 personnel from the self-defense forces. They should all be in Kyushu province by tomorrow, by Sunday.

I just want to update you, Michael, also on some new numbers we've just got from the Kumamoto management, disaster management offices. They just updated their numbers. They now say that 23 people have died from that second quake. That quake happened about 16 hours ago or so. Now, 23 people have died in that quake. Add another nine to people who lost their lives on Thursday that brings the total to 32.

[05:05:07] They also say that there's 92,000 people have now been evacuated from their homes in Kumamoto, a prefecture around the hardest hit areas. They are now in shelters like the one we heard from where Samuel is.

There are schools, there were aqua domes being used. There all sorts of buildings which had now being used as emergency shelters for nearly 100,000 people. I can also say that power has been knocked out to about 140,000 homes and more than 350,000 homes without power.

So, this is still very much a developing crisis in that area. As I say 20,000 self-defense force personnel on the site or are coming to the site, Michael. Now, they obviously, their priority is going to be rescue at this stages as the Prime Minister of Japan said just a few hours a ago, this is a race against time. As it always, is with earthquakes like this. It's reaching the people who are trapped in those buildings.

And also, this is the second earthquake is -- that the impact is even more devastating, because after the first earthquake which is a 6.2 magnitude, it caused a lot of structural damage in the region. The second earthquake, the epicenter was only about 13 kilometers away. It was a much stronger force about 15 times more powerful. So, it knocked over buildings that are already been structurally damaged.

So, the reports we're hearing, is that a lot of the bigger buildings have been damaged. We've had reports having these reports have people being forced to leave their houses, which are leaning on angles very, very unsafe.

So, Michael, that basically at this stage, it is all about rescue operations. The weather is reportedly closing in. There's going to be heavy rain forecast in the next few hours. And also of course, you had aftershocks, significant aftershocks, magnitude 4, magnitude 5 aftershocks. And that they're coming, you know, a few every hour. So, it really is a lot of the danger still on the ground for both the rescuers and those are still trapped.

HOLMES: Yeah, indeed. We call them aftershocks but they're earthquakes on their own, aren't they? Andrew, thanks so much, gratefully, there Andrew Stevens in Tokyo following all of that for us.

We're going to turn to some other news for you know and first to Greece where Pope Francis and other religious leaders have arrived at a migrant camp.

The Pope landed on the island of Lesbos a short time ago greeted by the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

I'm joined now by Hala Gorani, CNN Anchor and also Senior International Correspondent Atika Shubert, both of them on the island of Lesbos.

Let's start with you, Hala. And this is a extraordinary visit. It's a short visit but it's a visit of firsts in many ways.

HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It sure is. It is the first time any Pope visits a Greek island. The first time Pope Francis visits Greece. And it's an issue that he's talked about a lot. He in fact said that this trip fills him with sadness.

The Vatican said a few days ago that this wasn't a political trip but this was essentially a trip designed to highlight a very important humanitarian issue but of course, inevitably it is going to bring up many political issues including the European response to this refugee crisis.

Just to talk to you through a little bit, some of the remarkable images we've seen from the Moria camp not far from where I'm standing. And you had an under a tent many of the refugees with children and women as well waiting for the Pope. Atika is going to be there in a moment, I know. But, where I'm standing is where the pope is scheduled to deliver an address just in a few hours' time at the port.

And in fact remarkably, we've been told that some of these boats that are docked here on this port. Right beside me are some of the boats that the refugees themselves used to cross the water from Turkey into Greece. And you see the size of them and you can imagine 50 or 60 people crowded in tiny rubber dinghies like this.

It gives you a true sense of what some people are prepared to endure, are prepared to risk in order to flee war zones ad to make it here hoping for a better life and a better future. And also, what we are expecting the Pope to do at some point is address the refugees themselves during a lunch, where he'll be eating a, "Mushroom Risotto".

So he's keeping it no frills, Michael. And in fact, interestingly much of the, the much of -- what he's going to be doing will be facilitated by a minivan where his orthodox counterparts are sort of all inside this small vehicle making pit stops here and there on the island. Back to you.

HOLMES: I know it all does sound very Pope Francis. I was going to ask you, you've been there for a while now. You're talking about a small island. You're talking about people who have really been inundated by refugees.

[05:10:08] What do locals tell you about the impact on their lives and what are there attitudes like?

GORANI: Well, it's interesting because you'd expect an island that relies almost entirely on tourism to be a lot more hostile to work these migrants and refugees because it is essentially destroyed the summer tourism season that has to be said.

Hotels are full, but they're full with NGO workers, visiting officials. But, as far as other parts of the island that don't see the direct impact of the refugees and rely almost entirely on tourism money. They're going to have a very tough year. Despite that, they have actually told us, look, we get it. We are descendants in many cases of orthodox refugees from the Ottoman Era.

And so, we understand. We and our living family memory have heard stories of how tough it can be. And we're still willing to extend our welcome to them. So you haven't, as one would expect seen much hostility toward them, Michael.

HOLMES: Yeah. Great, reporting. Thanks so much, Hala. Hala Gorani there.

I want to go close to Atika Shubert as we continue to look at these pictures which are live, by the way. The Pope there, we're seeing the members of the Greek clergy and meeting with the young children there in this migrant camp.

Atika, give us a sense of this camp. I mean, this was a refugee reception center. It's really become in the eyes of many who were there a detention center now. How important is this visit? What is -- how is it being received?

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've seen some incredible emotional scenes inside the camp. And the Pope, really time after time reaching into the crowd of refugees that want to see him shaking hands, bowing in deference to older women that are there, lifting up babies.

It's really quite an emotional scene. We also saw one refugee breaking down in tears saying, "Father, please bless me" and children handing over drawings that they made in camp.

There are more than 2,000 people in the camp. It has a capacity for just 2,000. And, you're absolutely right. This is a refugee center it is also a detention center. It is really where, if your asylum application is rejected you will be held here before being deported back to Turkey. That is according to the latest Turkey E.U. Agreement. That was just put into effect several weeks ago.

So, having Pope Francis visit here today is going to have a significant impact. And he's already heard directly from refugees who handed him notes, who have told him in person, holding up signs saying, "Freedom of movement, what is my crime," clearly demanding that they'd be allowed to claim asylum in Europe and move on into other countries in Europe.

Now, Pope Francis himself, even before coming here pointed out that this is going to be a very difficult journey, an emotional one. In fact, on the plane to Lesbos, he said, "To reporters, this is a voyage marked by sadness. We will witness the worst humanitarian disaster since the Second World War. We see so many people who are suffering, who are fleeing ad have nowhere to go." He also mentioned the fact that so many people don't even make it here, that sadly die on the way here.

Now, we actually had a chance to visit the local cemetery here in Lesbos which unfortunately has been running out of space because so many people drown on the way.

High on the hill, the cemetery at Lesbos cares for the Island's dead. Among the alabaster crosses are dirt graves marked with chunks of broken marble those who died on the crossing to Europe.

Christos Mavrahilis is the 54 year old caretaker here. He leads us to the grave of a 1 year old girl he calls, "A little angel".

CHRISTOS MAVRAHILIS, CARETAKER: Sophie.

SHUBERT: Sophie is angel?

MAVRAHILIS: Sophie.

SHUBERT: Christos met the parents when they brought her here. She had slipped to her father's arms and drowned as they tried to hand her to the Greek coast guard. I don't care what religion people are, Christian, Muslim or Buddhist, he says. We're all flesh and bone. When our bodies go silent, we are returned to the earth.

Thousands of people have died making the journey across the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea. On Lesbos, more than 125 are buried here. And the cemetery has had to exhume and rebury bodies to make space for more.

Now, there are two things that strike you as you walk to the cemetery. The first is the number of unknown headstones you see, unknown, unknown, with only the date of death.

Second, the number of children buried here. This is Omar Alasad (ph), he died on October 13th 2015. And like so many of the children buried here, he drowned just as he was about to reach Europe shores.

[05:15:04] The unknown graves often have a number painted on them. The coroner's file was DNA or other information that may help identify the dead.

Christos told us of one Iraqi father who retraced the journey of his wife and child only to find them buried here.

These little girls were survived by their parents. They could afford a simple and engraving on marble and left small toys here before moving North through Europe, Christos says, life must go on.

The numbers of people crossing has dropped dramatically since the E.U. struck a deal with Turkey to deport most of those who reach Greece. But Christos assure he will still have work to do.

We can send them one way, but they'll still come back another, he says. They'll still come no matter what agreement is signed. Here, the graves stand as a silent reminder of just how much those crossing are willing to risk.

Now, Pope Francis is meeting so many of the refugees. But what's particularly remarkable is that he is meeting them with the ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew of the Orthodox Church. So this is really a powerful message of unity to focus on the point of refugees since what they are willing to risk to come to Europe, Michael.

HOLMES: Great reporting, powerful story. How sad. Atika thanks. Atika Shubert there and Hala Gorani also on the island of Lesbos. Thanks to you both.

Where U.S. Democrats have taken the gloves off, up next. The new fiery battle between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders ahead of a crucial primary.

Also the North Korean leader doesn't have a fresh missile test to brag about. Why the failed launch came at a crucial moment for Kim Jong- Un.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOLMES: You're looking at video there from Japan where that magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked to Kyushu Island early on Saturday at least 23 people confirm dead, that number rising in the last hour or so.

City official in Kumamoto region says at least 800 people have been injured. Just look at the damage of the terrain there. You can see the landscape forever changed.

Rescue crews still frantically searching for missing people, many seen trapped under fallen buildings and debris.

[05:20:04] Japan was already scrambling to recover from a tremor that killed nine people on Thursday.

Well, just a few days to go before the New York primary and the Democratic Presidential candidates have entered a contentious new phase of their campaign. As CNN Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny has more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: A day after the contentious Democratic debate, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton went their separate ways. Sanders flying to Rome for a Vatican conference on economic and social justice.

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (I-VT) DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We must reject the foundations of this contemporary economy as immoral and unsustainable.

ZELENY: For Clinton, a quick visit to Harlem.

HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PREIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I now know where to come when I want a good game of dominos.

ZELENY: Before heading to Hollywood for a weekend of star studded fundraising with George Clooney. But tonight, deep divisions are hanging over the Democratic race after their brawl in Brooklyn.

SANDERS: I am sure a lot of people are very surprised to learn that you that raising the minimum wage to 15 bucks an hour.

CLINTON: No wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

SANDERS: I have told it's probably not so accurate.

CLINTON: I have stood on the debate ...

SANDERS: Well ...

CLINTON: ... debate stage ...

SANDERS: Well, that I ...

CLINTON: ... with Senator Sanders.

ZELENY: Their voices rising, CNN's Wolf Blitzer had to play referee.

WOLF BLITZER: If you're both screaming at each other, the viewers won't be able to hear either of you.

ZELENY: A fierce fight over the $15 minimum wage to a sarcastic clash over the influence of big banks.

SANDERS: When millions of people lost their jobs and homes and live savings, the obvious response to that is that you got a bunch of fraudulent operators and they've got to be broken up.

CLINTON: It may be inconvenient but it's always important to get the facts straight. I stood up against the behaviors of the banks when I was a senator I called them out on their mortgage behavior.

SANDERS: Oh, my goodness. They must have been really crushed by this. And was that before or after you received huge sums of money by giving speaking engagements?

ZELENY: And Clinton expressing regret for the 1994 crime bill for husband signed into law.

CLINTON: My husband has apologized. He was the President who actually signed it. I'm sorry for the consequences that were unintended and have had a very unfortunate impact on people's lives.

ZELENY: After the debate, we asked Sanders who actually voted for the bill whether he had any regrets.

SANDERS: In retrospect it was a vote that led to awful things, they were good but here's the difficult thing, you can't say in retrospect. If I had voted the other way I have Secretary Clinton to say Bernie Sanders you had an opportunity to vote against the ban assault weapons you didn't do that.

ZELENY: Democrats are now a party divided.

CLINTON: It's going to be important that we unify the Democratic Party when the nomination process has completed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Secretary Clinton, thank you.

ZELENY: Sanders said he would do his part if she wins and hope Clinton will do hers if he does.

SANDERS: There are no Democrats that I know who are virtually none who will desert the Democratic Party no matter who the candidate is to vote for Donald Trump.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Well, during his trip to the Vatican, Sanders did get to meet with Pope Francis. They weren't scheduled to meet each other the Pope, of course was preparing for his trip to Greece to meet with migrants and initially send his regrets. Sanders told our Ben Wedeman what they talked about. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANDERS: It was a lovely meeting. He's an extraordinary man and I enjoyed the opportunity of chatting with him for a while.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And what did you discuss?

SANDERS: Well I just wanted him to know how appreciative I was of the extraordinary role that he is playing throughout the world in raising consciousness about massive levels of income and wealth inequality. About the greed that is so pervasive in the world's economy today such that the top 1 percent now owns more wealth globally than the bottom 99 percent and also his leadership in terms of climate change. He has played a very powerful role which is in cyclical in telling the entire world that we are moving in his words in a suicidal direction in climate and that we have to transform our energy system.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLLMES: Well, while the Democratic debate was going on the Republican candidates spoke at a Gala in New York. Ted Cruz didn't seem to be able to hold the audience's attention, though.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ, (R-TX) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Right, okay, all right. Did you mind (inaudible) to stand and one to stand unite. And let me know the way (inaudible) right now (inaudible).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:25:03] HOLMES: The conversation going on there around the room. Meanwhile, Donald Trump got good poll news this week he does like a poll. A major hometown endorsement CNN's Miguel Marquez has more on Trump's bump in momentum ahead of the New York primary.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is a great part of the world, believe me, folks.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Donald Trump on a mission riding high in the polls and playing aggressive offense as he looks for a big victory in Tuesday's New York primary, 95 delegates at stake.

TRUMP: What are New York values? Honesty and straight talk and these are the values we need to make America great again.

MARQUEZ: The home court advantage, giving the millionaire a lift. The latest Quinnipiac poll in New York has investing John Kasich and Ted Cruz by more than 30 points. The Rupert Murdoch owned New York polls endorsing Trump and his once in battle (ph) campaign manager Corey Lewandowski cleared of battery charges and ready to move on.

COREY LEWANDOWSKI, TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER: What I want just bring everyone together. We want to move on past this you know if we want to be successful as a party and Donald Trump as a campaign want to bring people together and focus our attention on winning the general election in November.

MARQUEZ: Trump today continuing his attack on party insiders over a delegate process in a blistering op-ed in "The Wall Street Journal" and again at a rally in Plattsburgh, New York.

TRUMP: When I joined the campaign in June, they had a system. After they saw that I was going to win Colorado they changed the system. We have a rigged system the Republican system is rigged.

MARQUEZ: Trump gaining momentum despite protests like these of the New York City Republican Gala at the first Manhattan building, the real estate mogul built.

TRUMP: I love to speak at the grand because I built this hotel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Well, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff canceled a nationally televised address that had been schedules for Friday evening. She was expected to make a case to the public to prevent her impeachment no reason given by cancelling the event.

Meanwhile the lower house of Brazil's Congress set to vote on Sunday whether to impeach the President. Miss Rousseff is accused of budget laws to hide a deficit ahead of the 2014 reelection. And we will be right back after the break plenty more to come.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:30:50] HOLMES: Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and indeed all around the world. You're watching "CNN NEWSROOM." I'm Michael Holmes thanks for your company. We're going to bring you up to date with the headlines.

Pope Francis and his Greek counterparts have been meeting with migrants at a camp on the Greek island of Lesbos. The religious leaders just toured the camp and will sign a joint declaration before having lunch with some of the migrants.

Two Taiwan citizens caught up in the China Kenya deportation dustup apparently saying they're sorry. Chinese state media say they pleading for mercy. A Kenya, rather deported dozens to mainland China after court acquitted them in a telecom scam. Taiwan says China abducted them.

U.S. Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders have an unscheduled meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday. The pope initially told conference attendees he couldn't see them because he was getting ready to go to Greece. Sanders did speak at a Vatican conference on social and economic and environmental issues and also had a quick meeting with the pontiff.

And we want to update you on our top story from Japan where that magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit Kyushu Island only on Saturday. We're now to tell at least 23 people are confirmed dead. Rescue crews still trying to find missing people many feared trapped on the falling buildings and debris. Japan was already scrambling to recovering from a tremor that killed nine people on Thursday.

Meteorologist Derek Van Dam joining us once again from this national weather stanza with the look at the look at the conditions in Japan and bring us up tonight.

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: More than likely to get worst than it gets it's better, of course we got the aftershocks which are occurring roughly within a space of time or every 10 to 15 minutes. There is already been roughly 80 aftershocks since the original 7.2 magnitude.

HOLMES: Eighty?

VAN DAM: Eighty and there's rain in the forecast on top of that. So that's going to cause some serious concerns. And there's such a potential, Michael, to really impact the Japan economy. Let me explain, take a look at this graph I had behind me. This is according to the U.S. geological survey. We have the potential with this latest earthquake of 7.0 that happened early Saturday morning local time in Japan to be equivalent, the destruction here, equivalent to roughly 1 percent of the GDP of Japan. According to a consensus in 2013 that was roughly $4.9 trillion but if you look at this graph here, we're following with our highest likelihood between $10 million or $10billion and $100 billion.

So again, that's up to its highest level 1 percent of the GDP of Japan. So, major ramifications not only for the people there but for the economy going forward because we are going to be assessing the damage from this particular storm or rather earthquake going forward weeks if not months to come.

This is a look at the shake map from the U.S. geological survey. And what I want to notice here is the high population density across the Kumamoto region. These pillars -- these red pillars are indicating high population densities. So I think of them as buildings almost. The higher the building, the higher the skyscraper, the more people you can fit inside that building. Well, you can see that too with this pillar on the map here that is indicating the high population density within this area. That deep shading of red also indicating violent to extreme shaking, 715,000 people feeling that extreme shaking and that is significant because, well, that means even the most resilient of structures could fall susceptible to the shaking from this particular earthquake.

I want to go down to the weather forecast for this particular area, because it's going to change but for the worst going forward. We actually have an area of low pressure that's moving off the east coast of China that is going to send a heavier band of precipitation across the Southern Islands of Japan. And we're going to look out for the potential of 50 millimeters of rain and it's also going to drop our temperatures in the single digits overnight that's a big deal, Michael, for the potential for hypothermia for some of the victims still stuck in their own. [05:35:07] HOLMES: Blast, they may (ph), bad weather. Derek thanks so much.

VAN DAM: Thanks Michael.

HOLMES: Derek Van Dam there.

I want to take you now to the island of Lesbos in Greece. Pope Francis giving a short speech at the moria refugee camp where he's been visiting refugees. Let's listen this.

POPE FRANCIS, CATHOLIC CHURCH: (Through Translation) I wanted to be with you today and tell you that you are not alone. During the past months and weeks, we have suffered a great deal searching for a better life. Many of you have been forced to flee from conflict and persecution above all to save your small children.

You have done a lot of sacrifices for your own families. You know the pain of having left behind everything that was dear to you, something hard to do. Without knowing what the future holds and what to take, many like you are at refugee camps. I hope they can build a new life in this continent.

I have wanted to be with you today. I want to tell you that you are not alone. In these weeks and months, you have endured much suffering in your search for a better life. Many of you felt forced to flee situations of conflict and persecution for the sake above all of your little children, your little ones here. You have made great sacrifices for your families. You know the pain of having left behind everything that is dear to you. And what is perhaps most difficult, not knowing what the future will bring. Many others like you are also in camps or towns waiting, hoping to build a new life on this continent.

I have come here with my brother Patriarch Bartholomew and the Archbishop Leronymos just to be with you and to listen to your own stories. We have come here in order to make the world aware about this serious humanitarian crisis and to find a solution, as men of faith we would like to join your voices and to talk openly on your behalf. And we hope that the world is listening to this tragic situation. This desperate situation and to answer accordingly.

I come here with Patron Bartholomew and Archbishop Leronymos simply to be with you and to hear your stories. We have called to attention of the world to this grave humanitarian crisis and to plead for its resolution. As people of faith, we wish to join our voices to speak out on your behalf. We hope that the world will heed the scenes of tragic and indeed desperate needs. And respond in a way worthy of our common humanity.

God created humans to be one single family, either brother or sister is suffering we are all suffering too. We all know through experience how it is -- how easy it is for some people to ignore the suffering of others and take advantage of their vulnerability. But we also know that this crisis can bring out the best of us. You have seen it. You've witnessed these. In the Greek people they have answered with generosity to your needs despite the fact of going through difficulties themselves.

[05:40:00] We have seen it also in those many people especially the young people who have come from all over the world to help you. Yes, there is a lot to be done but we would like to thank God. And then that God will never leave us alone in our suffering. There is always someone who will give you his hand and help you.

When any of our brothers and sisters suffer, we are all affected. We all know from experience how easy it is for some people to ignore other people's suffering and even to exploit their vulnerability. But we also know that this crisis can bring out the very best in us. You have seen this among yourselves and among the Greek people who have generously responded to your needs, amid their own difficulties.

You have also seen it in the many people, especially the young from throughout Europe and the world, who have come to help you. Yes, so much more needs to be done. But let us thank God that in our suffering, he never leaves us alone. There is always someone who can reach out and help us.

This is the message that I would like to give to you today. Do not give up hope. The greatest gift we can offer is love. Love to each other, a merciful look, to listen to one another, to understand one another in words of encouragement and prayer. Share this gift with one another.

We, Christians, who would like to talk of the episode of the Samaritans, the foreigner who came to help others, for us, this is a parable that talks about the mercy of God towards everyone. The Lord is merciful. This is also as an appeal to show the mercy towards those in need. All our brothers and sisters in this continent, as a Good Samaritan, he will come to your help in the spirit of fraternity, solidarity and respect for human dignity.

This is the message I want to leave with you today. Do not lose hope. The greatest gift we can offer one another is love, a merciful look, a readiness to listen and understand, a word of encouragement, a prayer. May you share this gift with one another.

We Christians love to tell the story of the Good Samaritan, a foreigner who saw a man in need and immediately stopped to help. For us, it is a story about God's mercy which is meant for everyone for God is the all merciful. It is also a summons to show that same mercy to those in need. May all our brothers and sisters on this continental like the Good Samaritan, come to your aid in the spirit of fraternity, solidarity and respect for human dignity that has distinguished its long history.

Dear brothers and sisters, may God bless all of you, especially your children, the elderly and those suffering in their body and their spirit. I hug you all with affection. To you and those accompany you, I invoke divine grace of a strength and peace.

May God bless you all, and in a special way, your children, the elderly and all of those who suffer in body and spirit. I am embrace all of you with affection. Upon you and those who accompany you, I invoke his gifts of strength and peace.

[05:45:09] HOLMES: Pope Francis there speaking to refugees on the island of Lesbos in Greece. Saying I wanted to be here to tell you are not alone. He spoke of the sacrifices the refugees have made in making that often perilous sometimes deadly journey to European shores. He said the crisis can bring out the best in people, and mentioned the generosity specifically of the Greek people now hosting thousands of migrants with more and more arriving virtually every day.

We're going to take a break. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back, everyone. Nigeria's Senate is demanding answers from its security chiefs over the missing Chibok girls. This comes in response the so called proof of life video obtained by CNN of some of the girls. The Senator told CNN that new the footage adds some new dimension to the investigation.

It's been two years since Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls from their school dormitory, more than 200 still being held captive.

Let's turn to CNN's Stephanie Busari covering the story from Abuja, Nigeria. Now, what strikes me is, this government and the government before have described the Chibok girls as a top priority, and yet, here we are, two years later, still talking about it. What can we expect from this Senate hearing?

STEPHANIE BUSARI, CNN REPORTER: Well, what we're hearing is that the senators are really going to ask the security chiefs what exactly they're doing to secure the release of these girls and what progress has been made.

[05:50:08] We know that the government is aware of the tape that was released to us. And there are some ongoing negotiations, which clearly, they won't give us much detail on. But, you know, the Senate really wants to press the security chiefs to reassure, I think, the public, in the wake of our video coming to light, you know, people -- there's been renewed hope given to Nigerians and to the parents that the girls are still alive. And, you know, in fact, this kidnapping was not a hoax as some people in the country believe. So there is a new impetus to get some information, some clear information, to the public about what really is going on behind the scenes.

HOLMES: You have worked very hard on this story along with Nima Elbagir and Sebastian Knoops on getting this video and recording the story so well. What I find curious, are the parents, the families, the friends of these girls, what are they saying that it took you to show them this video, when this video has been around for a while? Are they angry at the lack of information from their own government?

BUSARI: Absolutely. They're very angry. They feel abandoned. Some of the parents that we spoke to were very angry, both the Federal and the state government in Borno State. And, you know, they just feel abandoned that many of these parents are living in a very desperate conditions. You know, I did speak to the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima and he assured us that he's doing everything he can to provide support to the parents. And, you know, he did go along on Thursday to the two-year anniversary commemoration services. And there, you know, he spoke to some parents, and he was visible on the ground in light -- in the wake of our video. But, you know, the parents want more to be done. And some of them quite astonished really that it took CNN to show them the video that had clearly been around for a little while.

HOLMES: Yeah, remarkable, isn't it? It really is. Stephanie, remarkable reporting by you and the team. Stephanie Busari there in Abuja, thank you.

We're going to take a short break on the program. We'll be right back.

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HOLMES: Well, to recap our top story now, at least 23 people are confirmed dead after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit Japan's Kyushu Island on Saturday. Rescue cruise scrambling to reach people still trap under rubble as widespread power outages are reported and the hampering operations.

The nation was already trying to recover from a tremor that killed nine people two days earlier. Japan's government says 20,000 self- defense forces have been deployed to help in the rescue efforts.

Thanks for being with us. I'm Michael Holmes.

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