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Pope Addresses the U.N.; Teens Will Meet Pope. Aired 8:30-9a ET
Aired September 25, 2015 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:30:00] RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The way that he brought - he began the speech, talking about how we have, you know, differences here in this country and that we have to - we have to, you know, put those differences aside and try to work for the common good. And I think that was a - a good way to start and set the tone for the speech.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Of course he did talk about some controversial topics.
SANTORUM: Sure.
CAMEROTA: And he talked about immigration and he advised Congress and all leaders to be welcoming truly to immigrants. And you know what's interesting, senator, is that he didn't draw a distinction between illegal and legal immigration. He's what the Pope said. He said, "on this continent too," meaning here in the U.S., "thousands of persons are led to travel north in search of a better life for themselves and for their loved ones, in search of greater opportunities. Is this not what we want for our own children?" What's your response to that?
SANTORUM: Well I - you know, I think if you look at the United States and our immigration policy, it's actually a very, very generous one. I mean we bring in well over a million people a year. You know, to a country of 300 million, bringing in 1 million people a year, year after year after year now for 25 years, is very generous. We've had record levels of immigration in this country. And I - so I don't think America has anything to apologize for in how generous we are of spirit and, in fact, how we treat immigrants when they come to this country. I mean we have - we have all sorts of benefits the government gives and, of course, there're private charities who are also reaching out.
CAMEROTA: Sure.
SANTORUM: So I - you know, I - I think, you know, the - we have to - we have to look at the reality that America is a very generous country.
CAMEROTA: Well, sure. But, of course, the issue is the 11 million undocumented or illegal immigrants who are here and what do about them? As you know, this has been a big issue in the presidential race. And Donald Trump says that they all need to get out. And they - there is a mass deportation that he would plan. So given what the Pope has said, what do you think should happen with the 11 million undocumented immigrants? SANTORUM: Well, again, there's a difference between if you're a - if
you're a religious leader and you're calling for, you know, for overall themes of how we treat the immigrant. And when you're a nation and you're a national leader and you have to have - you have to have laws in place. I mean I don't - I don't know too many people in America who believe that there - there should be unlimited immigration, our border should be open to anybody who wants to come.
I mean we have - you - you don't - if you don't have borders, you don't have a nation. And I think it is important for us to have laws with respect to who comes into this country. And I always remind people, you talk about undocumented immigrants. Roughly half of the people here in this country illegally are not undocumented. They came into this country legally. They came in through the visa process and they simply didn't go home. So this is - this is a mixed bag of issues, not just as simple as maybe some would suggest as to - as to the problem of illegal immigration in America.
CAMEROTA: What do you want to hear the Pope say today?
SANTORUM: Well, I - you know, I want him to continue to do what I think he's done, which is to reach out to people who don't necessarily listen to people of faith or the Pope in the past. Talk about issues that resonate with them. And I know he's going to talk about the environment and climate. But also try to - and as he has done, integrate that into a holistic message of the dignity of the human person. I mean the responsibility for us to care for people. He mentioned the term yesterday subsidiary several times. The importance of people at the church level, at the family level, community level, of dealing with these problems. Not just the big government.
So it's a holistic message. It's hopefully people are starting to listen to - because he's resonating with folks he hasn't in the past, the church hasn't in the past, and sort of bring them in to see the holistic message of how this all integrates into a healthy world where everybody is respected and people are treated with dignity and respect.
CAMEROTA: Former senator and presidential candidate, Rick Santorum. Thanks so much for being on NEW DAY.
SANTORUM: Thank you, Alisyn.
CAMEROTA: Pope Francis, you can see there, this is a live shot. He's getting ready for his historic speech at the United Nations. What will he say? We will preview his speech for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:37:50] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to our viewers in the United States and around the world. You're watching NEW DAY right now, part of CNN's continuing coverage of all things Pope Francis.
We are at the United Nations. History will be made with a capital "h." Pope Francis just got here minutes ago. He's going to address the largest assemblage of world leaders ever in the U.N.'s 70 year history.
And we are here now with CNN's best chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour and Wolf Blitzer, of course, the host of CNN'S "Situation Room."
So far this morning everything's gone according to plan, but the big moment is before us.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Do you know it's gone according to plan since the moment he stepped down. And the anticipation at every step of the way, for what he's going to say, what tone, what message, has been really electric and it's got everybody on tender hooks watching and waiting to hear what he says.
And gradually from the moment he started speaking in English on the South Lawn of the White House, to the Congress in a joint meeting yesterday, to today, this sort of sense of this great moral authority is building up and people want to listen and people want to know what he's going to say because he's not a politician. Although, there are huge issues of global policy that he has to address. But he puts them all in the pastoral context of his position as the leader of one of the world's largest reason religion, 1.2 billion Roman Catholics around the world. Christians who look at him. Even Muslims and Jews who are looking at him as this great moral authority. And he will say that never has there been a time as there is today so necessary for the moral conscience of mankind to be deployed in a unified and united way to fix some of the greatest woes, poverty, the environment, gender issues, religious persecution, war.
WOLF BLITZER, ANCHOR, CNN'S "THE SITUATION ROOM": He's got a full agenda here this morning as well, in not just the main speech he's going to be delivering, Chris, before the United Nations General Assembly. That's an important speech in which he gets through some of the issues we spoke about earlier, poverty, the environment, war, what the United Nations can do. But earlier he's going to have a little more inform exchange with U.N. staffers and he's going to express his appreciation for everything that the United Nations has done over the years. It's an opportunity also for - it's almost like a little town hall, Christiane, isn't it?
[08:40:03] AMANPOUR: It is. And actually as we're looking at the screen, that's kind of the overflow in the - in the headquarters building behind us. People are probably watching screens there. He's already been met by the secretary-general of the United Nations. He's had flowers given to him by two little children, a six-year-old and a seven-year-old, a brother and sister, who are the children of the late U.N. official who was killed during the Haiti earthquake and he was part of the peacekeeping operation. And the Pope will also - there we see moments ago when he stepped inside. But the Pope will also lay a wreath for all those U.N. personnel who have been killed in the line of duty.
CUOMO: We're counting down to the big moment here. Christiane and Wolf are going to guide us all through the morning's events. So right now let's get back to Mic. MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: The Pope's visit to America fueling a frenzy of believers hoping for a chance to see the pontiff. This afternoon, 12 lucky New York high school seniors will get the chance to meet with the Pope when he visits a catholic school in Harlem. Two of those very students join us now. We have Tiffany Lee from Cardinal Spellman High School, Daniel Kwaku Afrifa from Cardinal Hayes High School, and Father Joseph Tierney, the president of Cardinal Hayes High School.
The whole team is here. Well, except for the other students that didn't come. But this is exciting. What an honor this is happening for you. Tiffany, I understand you found out the news that you would be among the 12 seniors getting to visit with the Pope on your birthday.
TIFFANY LE, STUDENT, CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL: Yes. Yes.
PEREIRA: Tell me how that felt.
LE: I feel as though it was God's birthday gift to me because it was such a blessing. I never would have expected that.
PEREIRA: And, Daniel, I understand you have several siblings.
DANIEL KWAKU AFRIFA, STUDENT MEETING WITH THE POPE: Yes.
PEREIRA: Your brothers also go to school with you. And I understand there's been a little bit of envy that you were the one that was selected to get a chance to meet the Pope.
AFRIFA: Yes. So I'm the - the last of five brothers. So we all want to Hayes. They all went to Hayes. So when they found out that I was the one chosen, they were a little envious that, you know, that the Pope didn't come when they were going to Hayes. But I think - I think they're happy for me now.
PEREIRA: But I imagine with that you feel a fair amount of responsibility, both of you, for your families, for your school, for the community. You a rarified heir. How do you prepare for something like this, Tiffany?
LE: Well, first of all I pray that God gives me guidance, everything that I do and I'm actually really proud to be a representative of my school.
PEREIRA: And how about you, Daniel? What are you thinking is the best way to go into this today, getting such an honor?
AFRIFA: I think just like Tiffany said, just to pray and really just level your head. The Pope isn't a very intimidating figure. He's very personable and so I don't think when I meet him I'll be afraid.
PEREIRA: Father Tierney and that's just what I think so many people are loving about this pope, he is the people's pope. I imagine as an educator of young minds, that provides such a fantastic teachable moment, continuously, any time he speaks, just the way he interacts with the public. FATHER JOSEPH TIERNEY, CARDINAL HAYES HIGH SCHOOL PRESIDENT:
Absolutely. I think what we've already seen and will see today is the fact that he is very open to young people's ideas and certainly will speak directly to them because they are the future. And I think he has a great message of hope and healing and of love for them.
PEREIRA: Have you been given rules about what to expect and where to be? Has it been very involved, what you've been told, the instructions you've been given, Tiffany?
LE: Yes.
PEREIRA: And so give us an idea. You have - is - do you know what you have to say or do?
LE: Well, we're going to be lining up in the hallway as he comes back and forth and we get to see him twice. So it's really exciting.
PEREIRA: Oh, that's exciting.
LE: Yes.
PEREIRA: So you have two opportunities to have an interaction.
LE: Yes.
PEREIRA: If you could say something to him, what would you say?
LE: I just want to thank him for taking his time out to come and see us and I would just like him to keep in mind of all the people that have asked me to tell him to pray. So -
PEREIRA: Oh, isn't that wonderful? You're carrying - you're a messenger for other people who don't get the chance.
LE: Yes.
PEREIRA: And, Daniel, I know that you feel very strongly about some of the qualities this man has. What do you admire most about his character?
AFRIFA: I probably admire his acceptingness. He accepts so many people. I think that the Catholic Church can be polarizing at times. And Pope Francis really puts an effort to make the Catholic Church more accepting of different kinds of people. And I think many people recognize that and appreciate it.
PEREIRA: Do you think you'll make some sort of comment to him about that giving the opportunity?
AFRIFA: Yes, I most definitely will.
PEREIRA: Are you a little nervous?
AFRIFA: A little bit. Just because I've been working on my Spanish to kind of talk to him. PEREIRA: Well, very good. How's your Italian?
TIERNEY : Not so good.
PEREIRA: Not to throw you a curve ball. But I could imagine there's a fair amount of excitement but also nerves because you want your student who are getting an opportunity of a lifetime to be well prepared for a situation like this?
TIERNEY: Absolutely. They're representing all of their classmates, the traditions of their schools. Who knows when the holy father will come back to New York again and this opportunity for both Daniel and Tiffany, it's a wonderful opportunity, and the other 12 students today, to meet the holy father. It's going to be a spectacular event.
PEREIRA: I imagine the school is kind of abuzz with it all, isn't it?
TIERNEY: We certainly are. We have a little tradition at Cardinal Hayes. 1979, Pope John Paul II visited and stayed at Hayes for about three hours before he went to Yankee Stadium. So we have a little bit of a tradition at Hayes to welcome our holy father.
[08:45:06] PEREIRA: I think this is wonderful. It is something neither of you will forget, I'm sure. Tiffany, Daniel, Father Tierney, what a joy to have you here. Thanks so much and enjoy every minute of today. We hope to watch social media and see some pictures later. I'll be watching. Thanks so much.
Back to you.
CUOMO: All right. Thanks for that, Mick. Great perspective. You see what is before us right now. The Pope, Pope Francis, signing the U.N. guest book. He is the fourth pope to address the U.N., but never under circumstances like this. This will be the largest assemblage of world leaders in the 70 year history of the United Nations. The importance of the moment cannot be understated.
What will happen next, Pope Francis will address the U.N. staff. But then comes the big moment where he heads to the General Assembly and talks about his message for the world. And to be clear, Christiane, he does not believe that this is just another moment in history, that it is not just some empty continuum, that this is important. He wanted to be here at this time because of what's going on.
AMANPOUR: Indeed. It is a transformative moment. It is the kickoff of the World Summit, the sustainable development goals. Also a huge and important gathering of world leaders ahead of what many believe is the last chance to reverse course on climate change. And that is the upcoming December summit in Paris regarding trying to get all world leaders to sign off on some sustainable goals for the climate.
CUOMO: And Wolf, we saw yesterday the impact that the Pope was able to have on Congress. We heard reports from members that they were talking to each other in a different way. Not to be too optimistic, but that is a little bit of a signal that when the Pope speaks it matters. BLITZER: It certainly does. And you see the photo opportunity here
with Ban Ki-moon, the U.N. Secretary General. The Pope -- this is the fifth time a pope has addressed the United Nations but one pope did it twice. So it's really four popes now. But in 70 years, it is an amazing moment when you take a look at the opportunity that the Pope had. And I do agree that he did have an impact on members of Congress yesterday. And we can only hope he has an impact on world leaders here today.
CUOMO: All right. So we're going to keep watching this live coverage. Obviously, the big lead up to the message before the General Assembly. Again, the largest assemblage of world leaders in the U.N.'s 70 year history. The relevance cannot be understated.
Let's take a quick break so we can have you with us for the moment that we've been waiting for.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:51:25] CUOMO: Welcome to NEW DAY and our special coverage of the Pope Francis trip to the United Nations. What will the Pope say to the world? And analyzing the message, it is not just what he says, it's how and why he says it.
Let's bring in Delia Gallagher, CNN Vatican correspondent.
Global warming was big on the South Lawn, was part of what he said to Congress, though not as emphasized. Today they believe it will be a big message. Help people understand why, for the Vatican, that this message is part of a tapestry of a continuum of what they believe matters that flows into everything else.
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: The Pope speaks of the integral ecology. The integral ecology means that man is not separate from his environment. We are part of the environment and therefore what we do to the environment we are actually doing to ourselves and of course, for the Pope, what we are doing to ourselves means also what we are doing to the poor and to the underprivileged.
And I think, Chris, in this talk in particular he wants to bring the voice of the poor, the voice of the people who are not able to come to these halls and speak and remind the people that are here making decisions in these halls, in the halls of Congress, the effect that those decisions are having on people in Syria, in Libya, on immigration that is coming into Europe now en masse (ph). I think that he feels that that is his mission. You know, he came as the missionary of mercy. Part of his mission is to speak on behalf of those underprivileged people who don't have a voice.
CUOMO: Speak, indeed, he will. We're looking at live picture right now. We know that Papa Francisco is inside the U.N. He's sitting next to Ban Ki-moon, the head of the U.N., obviously. And he's going to address the staff first before heading into the General Assembly to literally talk to the world. So we'll monitor this for you. When the Pope starts to speak we will listen. In terms of this message, we were told by the Vatican that there are
no accidents, that he has never tailored messages for audiences more than on this trip and certainly more than he will today.
AMANPOUR: That's right. And he knows that he is speaking today to international leaders. He wants international cooperation. We'll listen now to the secretary-general.
(APPLAUSE)
BAN KI-MOON, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: Muchas gracias. I will be very brief. Your Holiness, I may be the one behind the microphone and in this spotlight, but this staff of the United Nations for working day and night with a strong commitment, I really appreciate and I hope you will grace them and bless them so that they can continue to work upholding the(INAUDIBLE) of the United Nations for war, the peace development and human rights.
Thank you for taking the time to meet with them because they are the heart and soul of our work. The Guardians of Faith, we draw inspiration from your humility and humanity and from your global call for action on social justice, climate change and ensuring a life of dignity for all.
[08:54:54] Let me just say, Your Holiness, thank you for your spiritual guidance and blessings and love for humanity. Thank you. Gracias. Merci. (INAUDIBLE) Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
POPE FRANCIS: Dear friends, good morning.
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
On the occasion of my visit to the United Nations, I am pleased to meet you, the men and women who are in many ways the backbone of this organization. I thank you for your welcome, and I am grateful for all that you have done to prepare for my visit. I would ask you all to offer my greetings to the members of your families and to your colleagues who could not be with us today because they're (INAUDIBLE).
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
The vast majority of the work done here is not of the kind that makes the news. Behind the scenes, the daily efforts make possible many of the diplomatic, culture, economic and political initiatives of the United Nations, which are so important for meeting the hopes and expectation of the peoples who make up a human family.
You are experts and experienced field workers, officials and secretaries, translators and interpreters, cleaners and cooks, maintenance and security personnel. Thank you for all you do. Your quiet and devoted work not only contributes to the betterment of the United Nations, it also has great significance for you personally, for how we work expresses our dignity and the kind of persons who we are. Many of you have come to this city from countries the world over. As
such, you are microcosms of the peoples which this organization represents and seeks to serve. Like so many other people worldwide, you are concerned about your children's welfare and education. You worry about the future of the planet and what kind of a world we will leave for future generations. But today and every day, I would ask each of you whatever your capacity to care one another, be close to one another, respect one another.
