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India Launches Airstrikes To Pakistan; Papal Conclave Begins Today; Russia's Three-Day Unilateral Ceasefire Is Set To Begin; Carney Tells Trump That Canada Will Never Be The 51st State. Aired 3-3:50a ET

Aired May 07, 2025 - 03:00   ET

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

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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN HOST: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, a major escalation between two nuclear armed rivals. India launches deadly airstrikes on Pakistan, which is now vowing to respond.

Choosing the next Pope. More than a hundred Cardinals will soon be sealed off from the world as they begin the secretive process of electing a new leader for the Catholic Church.

And Canada's Prime Minister tells the U.S. President his country will never become the 51st state. But Donald Trump says, never say never.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: I appreciate you joining us.

The death toll is rising from Indian military strikes on Pakistan, raising fears that two nuclear armed rivals are moving closer to war. A Pakistani military spokesperson tells Reuters at least 26 civilians have been killed and 46 injured.

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India claims to have targeted terrorist infrastructure in several locations inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. India insists its missile strikes were, quote, "focused and precise and designed to be non-escalatory in nature." But Pakistan rejects that claim.

Pakistan also says it shot down five Indian Air Force jets and a drone. CNN cannot independently confirm those claims.

And this just in. According to a senior Indian defense source, Pakistani shelling in Indian-administered Kashmir has now killed eight people. These back-and-forth attacks come about two weeks after gunmen massacred 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.

India quickly accused Pakistan of supporting terrorists in the region. Pakistan denied any responsibility. The two sides have also been exchanging shelling and gunfire across their disputed border.

This is the first time since 2019 that India has struck inside Pakistani territory. The attacks in Punjab province are the deepest since the 1971 war.

And we want to go live now to CNN's Paula Hancocks following developments from Abu Dhabi. Good to see you, Paula. So what is the latest on these developments in the wake of India's military strikes on Pakistan?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, India says that it carried out these strikes in the early hours of Wednesday morning, starting at 1:05 a.m. And they say that they lasted 25 minutes.

Now, from the Indian side, we are hearing that they made sure they did not target civilians or any economic or military infrastructure. From the Pakistan side, we are hearing that that simply wasn't the case.

So, first of all, the statements from the Indian defense ministry, they said, quote, "our actions have been focused, measured and non- escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution."

But what we are hearing from the Pakistan side is that civilians and also mosques have been targeted. Officials saying that some six locations these strikes took place and at least 26 were killed. They say civilians, including children, at least one as young as three years old, also saying that some 46 have been injured.

Now, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, has said that he considers this an act of war, saying that Pakistan has the right to give a befitting reply.

Now, Pakistan also claims that it has shot down five jets and a drone of the Indian Air Force, also claiming that three of them are Rafale jets. This is a very sophisticated French-made jet, which is really a prized asset of the Indian Air Force.

We have heard from the Indian military since those claims, but they have not engaged with those claims at all. CNN cannot confirm or deny that that is the case.

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And we are also hearing that there has been more cross-border fire from Pakistani-controlled Kashmir into the Indian-administered Kashmir. This Wednesday morning as well, in retaliation to those strikes, another eight have been killed in those. We understand on the Indian side of the administered disputed territory, there are evacuations taking place to more safe areas. It is of great concern that these two nuclear-powered countries are

seeing this increased tension, countries around the world, the U.S., China and the United Nations, calling both to show restraint. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Our thanks to Paula Hancocks, bringing us the very latest on those developments. I appreciate it.

Well the U.S. State Department says it is closely monitoring developments after the Indian strikes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had urged top officials from both countries to de-escalate last week. On Tuesday, the U.S. President addressed the situation from the White House.

Kristen Holmes has details.

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KRISTEN HOLMES, SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The White House is monitoring the situation in Pakistan very closely. They have been keeping an eye on how India was going to react.

In fact, J.D. Vance, Vice President, said last week that he hoped that India's response to that attack was not going to be something that raised or escalated issues, tensions in that region.

Now, obviously this is a major escalation. Donald Trump was asked about his reaction to this. He said he had just learned about it as he was entering into the Oval Office.

Here's what he said.

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: No, it's a shame. We just heard about it just as we were walking in the doors of the Oval.

I guess people knew something was going to happen based on a little bit of the past. They've been fighting for a long time. They've been fighting for many, many decades and centuries, actually, if you really think about it.

No, I just hope it ends very quickly.

HOLMES: And, of course, again, the White House watching this very closely. There is still a growing concern that this is going to escalate and could eventually turn into some kind of larger-scale war. So, again, all of the White House and the administration is looking at this. They're keeping close tabs on this evolving situation.

Kristen Holmes, CNN, the White House.

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CHURCH: Now, to our other top story. In less than an hour, the conclave will begin to choose a new pope to lead the Roman Catholic Church. And we are looking at live pictures from Vatican City, where 133

cardinals will decide who will succeed Pope Francis to become the next leader of almost 1.5 billion Catholics around the world.

The cardinals will be sealed off from the outside world as they wrestle with the crucial task inside the Sistine Chapel.

And live now to CNN senior international correspondent Ben Wedemann in St. Peter's Square. Good to see you, Ben. So, what is the mood there as the College of Cardinals prepare to enter the Sistine Chapel and start this process of deciding who will become the next pope?

BEN WEDEMANN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the mood is one of intense anticipation, Rosemary. This is going to be a very interesting conclave when you consider that back in 2013, the cardinals came from 48 countries, but because Pope Francis was so eager to make the church more inclusive, they now represent the cardinals' 70 countries around the world. He appointed 80 percent of those cardinals. So, it's going to be a very different kind of conclave.

Now, as you said, within the next hour, there is going to be a mass, the Pro Eligendo Pontifice, which is Latin for the election of a pope, a pontiff, where all of these 133 cardinals will participate. 6.5 hours after that, they will file into the Sistine Chapel, and then the conclave will officially begin.

Now, all of these cardinals are going to have to give up all of their phones, their mobile phones, electrical devices, and they will not get them back until the conclave is over. Now, we're expecting one vote today, usually the first vote, you can take it for granted, it's going to be black smoke, but certainly what we saw back in 2013, there were five rounds of voting that, of course, ended with the election of Jorge Bergoglio, who became, of course, Pope Francis.

Now, at the moment, St. Peter's Square is empty.

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People are being kept away, and here we're actually in the Piazza Pio, which is, there are more journalists than people at the moment, but what I saw back in 2013 is that as soon as white smoke emerges from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, you will see hundreds, thousands of people converging on St. Peter's Square to hear who the cardinals have selected.

So, we don't know at this point, there's no idea at this point if this is going to be a short conclave or a long conclave. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Indeed. Just one vote today, and then, of course, more votes in the coming days. We'll see, as you say, how long it takes. Ben Wedemann, in St. Peter's Square, many thanks, I appreciate it.

We're now to Washington and Katie Prejean McGrady, CNN's Vatican analyst and host of the "Katie McGrady Show" on Sirius XM, The Catholic Channel. Good to have you with us. KATIE PREJEAN MCGRADY, CNN VATICAN ANALYST AND HOST OF "KATIE MCGRADY SHOW": Good morning.

CHURCH: So, very soon, as we've been reporting, the College of Cardinals will file into the Sistine Chapel and prepare to take the first vote to elect the next pope in complete secrecy and without any communication with the outside world. So, how will this process play out and how long do you expect it will take to determine who will lead the Catholic Church?

MCGRADY: The joke that I've been making is when they released the photos of the Sistine Chapel prepared, I noticed they're using these red chairs. I've sat in those red chairs before. They're not the most comfortable. So, jokingly, I'm predicting a short conclave because nobody wants to sit in those chairs for multiple days.

But in all seriousness, this is actually the largest conclave we've had, 133 voting cardinals. So, I anticipate, while it might not be the longest, it's not going to be three years like it was in the 1200s that developed this whole process, I don't think it's going to be just a quick 24 hours.

Now, I'm going to have to say this multiple times over the next couple days. None of us truly know, but the way the process works, even just logistically, they go in, today they'll take a solemn oath, and they'll start casting their ballots.

Today is the test ballot in the sense of here's the various potential ideological camps, if you want to use American political language of progressive or traditional. But it's also an opportunity, I think, for the cardinals to just kind of get into the zone. It's been said by many cardinals over the past couple of days that as much talking and discussion and prayer that has gone into this moment, it's nothing quite like being in the room where it happens and being in the mix and being in the moment.

So, there's this beautiful mystery to it that no other election happens like this. And so, I think today is going to be a real snapshot of that for us, watching from afar, and then once those doors are closed, for them inside the Sistine Chapel.

CHURCH: Right, and of course, here's the question I'm sure you've been asked a thousand times, who do you see as the top contenders to become the next pope? And how do you think the College of Cardinals will make their decision, given many of them don't even know each other, do they?

MCGRADY: So, I'll start with that point. They don't know each other, maybe in the sense that other cardinal electors in previous conclaves have. Because cardinals that were appointed by Francis, especially from around the world, from the peripheries, didn't come to Rome that often. That said, a little more than half of these cardinals voting have spent time together in the past couple of years at the Synod on Synodality.

So, these past two weeks, they've spent time with each other in the general congregations and have kind of gotten a read on one another's personalities and their sensibilities and their skills. That isn't necessarily a long standing relationship, but a number of them did spend two months working together over the past couple of years.

That also being said, I've got my eye on a few, and I'm happy to share those names. Cardinal Pietro Parolin seems to be the odds-on favorite, if you look at the betting markets, which I'm not betting, I'm just looking at the markets to see.

He's perhaps the most well-known. He's got the statesman career, the secretary of state for 12 years. He also does have a kind of maybe a loss of momentum in the past couple of days, just because I think a lot of names get thrown out in the final couple of days, both by the cardinals who are maybe offering interviews.

So, I would less talk about, okay, well, it's Parolin or it's Tagle, and more say, I think who will emerge is someone with a unifying, stabilizing, and evangelistic spirit. The cardinals have had conversations for days about what the church needs, and while we don't necessarily have a name of who that could be, the qualities have emerged very clearly that this will be a pope who's able to meet the moment in the world, and also meet the moment in the church, to be a great evangelizer.

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CHURCH: Yes, and of course that takes us to the next question, because, I mean, everyone wants to know, will the cardinals select a successor who will continue the reformist work of Pope Francis, or do you think they'll go in a different direction, perhaps a more traditional direction?

MCGRADY: I think it's fair to say that whoever comes out on the loggia won't be Francis 2.0 directly, because no pope is a direct comp to the one who came right before, simply because it's not 2013. When Francis came to us in 2013, well, the world is vastly different in 2025.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, who was a very close collaborator of Pope Francis, he's given a number of interviews over the past few weeks, very much engaging with the media, and he said, we're not looking to just do this all over again in the exact same way, that we're looking for the successor of Peter of 2025, we're looking for the man who can meet this moment.

That being said, I think we will certainly see a number of the reforms, the inclusion of women in some leadership positions in the curia, certainly conversations about going to the margins, absolutely will continue. We're too far past those being instituted for somebody to come in tomorrow and say, nope, we're not doing that anymore.

But I do think we'll see perhaps a more, a quieter pontificate, a pope who doesn't maybe engage with the public on airplane press conferences quite as much as Pope Francis, because that might not be his style. So I don't think we're going to see somebody who's just Francis 2.0, but I don't think we're going all the way back pre-Vatican II.

CHURCH: Interesting. Katie McGrady, thank you so much for talking with us. I appreciate it.

MCGRADY: Thank you.

CHURCH: Israel claims it destroyed Houthi terror targets in Yemen after a series of airstrikes on the country's main international airport. Coming up, the unprecedented warning that came before the attack.

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone.

The Israeli military reports multiple airstrikes have fully disabled the airport in Yemen's capital, Sanaa.

The IDF says fighter jets struck and dismantled Houthi terrorist infrastructure. Several major power stations were also hit. The Houthi-run health ministry reports at least one person was killed and three others injured in the airport attack.

On Sunday, a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis penetrated Israeli air defenses and landed near Ben-Gurion International Airport. Israel's military issued a rare evacuation order for Yemen's airport before Tuesday's strike.

More now from CNN's Jerusalem correspondent, Jeremy Diamond.

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JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: These are some of the most significant Israeli airstrikes that we have seen in Yemen. They are the second wave of strikes within just 24 hours coming in retaliation for that Houthi ballistic missile attack on Sunday that struck right next to Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport.

The Israeli military on Tuesday striking the capital city of Sanaa's international airport, according to the Israeli military, fully disabling that airport after carrying out strikes that hit the runways, aircraft, as well as other infrastructure at that airport.

It is a civilian international airport, which is quite notable here, but Israel accusing the Houthis of using this airport for their military purposes as well. It was one of just a series of strikes that we saw in and around the Yemeni capital on Tuesday, as the Israeli military also struck the power plants in the area, as well as a cement factory just north of the city.

The Israelis also issued an unprecedented evacuation order for that international airport in Sanaa about an hour before those airstrikes took place, sending passengers and staff scrambling to get away from that airport before the bombs started dropping. It's not clear whether the Israelis intend to carry out further

attacks now, but right after this happened, within hours actually, President Trump then announcing that the United States and the Houthis have effectively reached a de facto ceasefire.

No indication as of yet that that will include Israel and the back- and-forth attacks between Israel and the Houthis. But indeed, President Trump saying that the Houthis don't want to fight, that they have capitulated in the face of several months of escalating American attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen.

President Trump saying that the United States will also stop its bombing of Houthi targets in Yemen after the Houthis agreed to stop bombing, stop targeting ships in the Red Sea. It seems like there is some kind of more formal agreements that is actually in the works here that has yet to actually be signed. But President Trump making that announcement, the question how will this affect the Israeli Houthi back-and-forth, that much remains to be seen.

Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Jerusalem.

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CHURCH: We're following a major escalation between two nuclear armed rivals. India and Pakistan are on the brink of war after India's early morning missile strikes. We will bring you the latest developments after the break.

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CHURCH: Welcome back to "CNN Newsroom." I'm Rosemary Church. I want to check today's top stories for you.

133 Catholic Cardinals will soon gather inside the Sistine Chapel to deliberate over who should become the next Pope. The conclave will send smoke to the outside world daily from a special chimney. Black indicates no decision has been made and white means the Cardinals have chosen the church's new leader.

Israel's military says it has fully disabled the international airport in Yemen's capital. The IDF says fighter jets struck and dismantled Houthi terror infrastructure as well as several major power stations. The Houthi-run health ministry reports at least one person was killed.

A senior Indian defense source says Pakistani shelling in Indian- administered Kashmir has now killed eight people. Meanwhile, there's a spike in the death toll from Indian strikes against Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The Pakistan military tells Reuters it's now risen to 26 with dozens more wounded.

And I do want to bring in CNN's Kristie Lu Stout now. She joins us live from Hong Kong. Good to see you again, Kristie. So, what is the latest on these developments and, of course, these concerns about a major escalation possibly moving toward all-out war?

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rosemary, this is a massive escalation and now we have both Pakistan and India saying civilians have been killed. India has carried out a military strike against Pakistan. This takes place two weeks after that tourist massacre in Indian-controlled Kashmir, a massacre that India has blamed on Pakistan and Pakistan denies.

According to India's military, this strike took place earlier today. They were targeting and striking, quote, "terrorist infrastructure both inside Pakistan proper and in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir."

Earlier today, we listened to a press conference of the Indian foreign minister and he said that India had the right to respond. Listen to this.

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VIKRAM MISRI, INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Earlier this morning, as you would be aware, India exercised its right to respond and preempt as well as deter more such cross-border attacks. These actions were measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible. They focused on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and disabling terrorists likely to be sent across to India.

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LU STOUT: Now India says a total of nine sites were targeted. And I want to show you this social media video that has been going viral that shows the moment of impact for one of these strikes.

And it took place and it was filmed in eastern Pakistan. And this is significant. This is the first time India has carried out airstrikes in Pakistan since 2019. Multiple sites have been hit, multiple sites targeted, including a religious school.

And in this next video I'd like to bring up, also sourced from social media and vetted by CNN, you see the aftermath of a strike on a religious school in eastern Pakistan near Lahore in the town of Muridke. And you see that the school is in flames.

According to Pakistan's military spokesman, this is quoted by Reuters, 26 civilians have been killed. The fatalities include women and children. We've also learned from Pakistan saying that they are calling this a, quote, "blatant act of war."

Earlier, CNN spoke with Pakistan's military spokesperson. Listen closely.

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LT. GEN. AHMED SHARIF CHAUDHRY, PAKISTANI MILITARY SPOKESPERSON: We strongly condemn this cowardly action of India, which is in any form a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, international law and all established norms of interstate relations.

The Indian leadership has once again used the bogey of terrorism to advance its sham narrative of victimhood. We have jeopardized the regional peace and security. And I must say that India's reckless action has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict.

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LU STOTU: India says that it has shot down at least five Indian fighter jets. India has said that there has been cross-border shelling by Pakistan, which has resulted in the loss of civilian lives. According to Reuters, citing the Indian military, seven civilians lost their lives and administered by India, Kashmir region.

Back to you.

CHURCH: Our thanks to Kristie Lu Stout bringing us that live update from Hong Kong. I appreciate it.

A unilateral three-day ceasefire is set to begin soon in Ukraine as Russia temporarily shifts its focus. Ahead, how Russian President Vladimir Putin is readying for his country's Victory Day celebrations.

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone.

A unilateral three-day ceasefire proposed by Russia in Ukraine is set to begin hours from now. Russian President Vladimir Putin wants the brief truce to coincide with the Victory Day events, commemorating 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Chinese President Xi Jinping is among 29 heads of state expected for the celebrations, along with the leaders of Brazil, Vietnam, Belarus and other countries.

And just as those leaders are due to arrive, Ukrainian drones have attacked Moscow for a third straight day, forcing most of the Russian capital's airports to close. CNN's Fred Pleitgen has more.

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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A waltz for victory. Hundreds of young people in Moscow putting on a massive performance, dancing in Soviet military uniforms.

Honoring veterans of World War II who defeated Nazi Germany, while also showing support for Russian soldiers fighting now in what the Kremlin still calls its special military operation.

UNKNOWN: We won a big war and we can win (inaudible) war of course. PLEITGEN (voice-over): I think we should support our fighters who are currently taking part in the special operation in any case, he says. It's very important to support them. They are feeling the support.

And the Russians claim their troops are bringing the heat on nearly all front lines, making continuous gains in eastern Ukraine in the past weeks, they say, while all but eliminating Kyiv's remaining forces still scattered in the western Russian Kursk area.

They had no chance, the soldier says, as they tour a recaptured town.

With U.S. President Donald Trump's initiative for a 30-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia seemingly stuck in a rut, even Russian state T.V. marveling at the chaos inside the Trump administration, speculating who the next national security adviser might be.

He named Stephen Miller as his favorite, the host says. According to Trump, the official already indirectly occupies this position. In the meantime, State Secretary Rubio is officially dealing with the tasks of the advisor. Such a consolidation of powers has not been seen since Henry Kissinger in the 70s.

But painting a very different picture of Vladimir Putin's leadership, after the Russian president showed his private Kremlin quarters to a Russian state T.V. reporter for the first time, serving the typical Russian fermented buttermilk drink kefir.

Is it a Russian product, the interviewer asks? Of course, Putin answers.

The Kremlin saying it all shows how rock solid and stable Putin's approval is.

It's not kefir that's causing the stir, the Kremlin spokesman says. It's probably the consolidation of the whole society. It's a manifestation of the consolidation around the president.

It's the popularity of the president of our country and how attentively people treat the head of their state.

And one thing Putin is projecting is power, putting on a show of force about Russia's past while vowing not to be denied victory in the present.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.

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CHURCH: Still ahead, Canada's Prime Minister on his first visit to the White House. We will see if the meeting did anything to resolve the trade dispute that's dividing the longtime allies. Back with that and more in just a moment.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHURCH: U.S. and Chinese officials plan to meet this week in Switzerland to discuss trade and tariff issues. But both sides are already downplaying expectations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jameson Greer will travel to Geneva for those talks.

Bessent says he believes the meeting will be more about de-escalation than making a deal, while China says it will not compromise its principles for the sake of reaching a deal.

A meeting between the U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney did not settle the ongoing tariff dispute. But the Canadian leader did deliver a clear message on his country's sovereignty.

CNN's Paula Newton reports.

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PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: To be clear, both Canadian officials and the White House really lowered expectations going into this meeting. But in terms of tone, likely it could not have gone better.

Even though Donald Trump continued to talk about making Canada the 51st state, the Prime Minister certainly stood up for Canada and made not just his opinion clear, but that of his voters. Listen.

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MARK CARNEY, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: If I may, as you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale.

TRUMP: That's true.

CARNEY: We're sitting in one right now, you know, Buckingham Palace that you visited as well.

TRUMP: That's true.

CARMEY: And having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign last several months, it's not for sale, won't be for sale ever.

NEWTON: To be clear, it was important for Prime Minister Carney to get in there and make that point in the Oval Office. Certainly it will not keep Donald Trump from continually saying it. Mark Carney concedes that himself.

But the rest of the conversation was quite substantive, if not sobering. Neither side really indicated that the tariffs would be lifted on Canada anytime soon, that negotiations going forward would be tough, and that Canada continues to try and take a tough stand, pointing out that, look, it was the President who ripped up a trade agreement that he himself negotiated.

There is a G7 coming up in Canada in just a few weeks. These two men, certainly with other world leaders, will continue to work towards that date to see if the economic relationships can be maintained with the United States and with all of those allies. Again, Mark Carney, a lot of work to do coming up as he prepares for the G7.

Paula Newton, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Thanks so much for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. Have yourselves a wonderful day.

Erin Burnett picks up our special coverage of the Conclave Mass live from Vatican City right after a short break.

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