Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

Pope Visits Syria

Aired May 05, 2001 - 12:10   ET

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

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Pope John Paul II has become the first pontiff ever to visit Syria, making history as he retraces a historical Biblical journey of St. Paul. And he is welcomed with open arms, in sharp contrast to his reception in Greece yesterday.

Here's CNN's Brent Sadler.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Damascus, the latest stop on Pope John Paul II's pilgrimage to the Eastern Mediterranean. A presidential welcome from the young Syrian leader, Bashar Al-Assad. He heads a mainly Moslem population, but there's a significant Orthodox and Catholic presence.

Earlier in Greece, the pope has made a dramatic apology to the Orthodox church for Roman Catholic errors of the ancient past. But he's expected to have a much smoother ecumenical ride here, from Christians and Moslems alike.

VICAR ISIDORE BATICA, GREEK CATHOLIC PATRIARCH: And here, the Greek Orthodox patriarch will be in the popemobile. You see the difference between our mentality here and the others. So we will show to the world that Moslems and Christians are together here, and all the factions of the churches work together, and that is very important.

SADLER: The papal pilgrimage is a golden opportunity for the leadership to open a window on Syrian principles, especially toward Middle East peacemaking.

PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SYRIA (through translator): Our brethren in Palestine are being murdered and tortured. Justice is being violated, and as a result, territories in Lebanon, the Golan and Palestine have been occupied by those who even killed the principle of equality.

SADLER: The pope expressed firm views toward finding a peace settlement. "It's time to return to the principles of international legality," he says, "And the banning of acquisition of territory by force."

It's here on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights at the ghost city of Quneitra that the pope will pray for peace. Buildings were systematically destroyed by the Israelis before they relinquished it 27 years ago.

In another symbolic gesture of profound importance, the pope will reach out to all Moslems.

(on camera): It's here at the Omayyad Mosque in Damascus that the pope is expected to make history by setting foot inside this ancient place for Moslem prayer, to help promote better relations between the Christian and Islamic faiths.

(voice-over): In a region beset by centuries of religious rivalry and conflict.

Brent Sadler, CNN, Damascus.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KELLEY: Pope John Paul II plans to visit in the Syrian Golan Heights on Monday, that's an area controversial in peace talks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com