Return to Transcripts main page
CNN This Morning
Leo XIV Celebrates First Mass as New Pope; Joe Biden Defends Legacy on 'The View'. Aired 6-6:30a ET
Aired May 09, 2025 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: It is Friday, May 9. And here's what's happening right now on CNN THIS MORNING.
[06:00:45]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hope that he's able to bring the gifts of the United States into the Vatican.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: The Catholic Church has a new pope. And for the very first time an American. He gave his first homily today with a message for Christians around the world.
Plus, this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As an Augustinian pope, he's going to really foreground community, friendship.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: And what's in a name? If you're the pope, everything. The clues Pope Leo is dropping about the kind of leader he wants to be with his name choice.
Also, this. A dangerous border. People living along Kashmir's border in the line of fire as India and Pakistan's conflict continues overnight.
And later, he broke with President Trump. Then one day later, he was fired. What the acting FEMA chief said that could have cost him his job.
It's 6 a.m. here on the East Coast, but here's a live look at Vatican City. Right now, Leo XIV is celebrating his first mass as pope.
Good morning, everybody. I'm Audie Cornish. I want to thank you for waking up with me.
And we're going to begin this hour at the Sistine Chapel. Right now, Robert Prevost has been celebrating his first mass as Pope Leo XIV.
And CNN's Erin Burnett has been watching it all unfold this morning in St. Peter's Square. And she joins us now.
Erin, good morning. Tell us what you heard in his first homily.
ERIN BURNETT, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Audie.
And history, of course, made here in Rome. And it is still sinking in, I think, is -- is the way to summarize all of it.
And this morning, Pope Leo XIV, processing into the Sistine Chapel, his first mass as pope and addressing his -- his cardinals.
He started, Audie, in something that we have never seen before from any pope, and certainly, not in the Sistine Chapel. That is, he began his homily in English. It was not anticipated that he would do so. It was expected. In fact, you know, the transcript that they gave was that it would be fully in Italian.
But at the beginning he began in English and in a very American sort of English, Audie, putting his -- his -- his arms out, welcoming the cardinals. It felt that something you could see from a priest at any mass in any church in the United States. So, history again made there.
He spoke in his homily, Audie, about something that would be very familiar to many American Catholics, Catholics across in Europe, as well, talking about how, to him, Jesus is often reduced to being a charismatic -- charismatic leader or a superman, sort of implying an influencer, saying that many Christians and Catholics live in a state of practical atheism. He talked about technology.
A homily that would be heard and understood by anybody listening to it, not just targeted at the -- the leaders of the Catholic Church who were in that room, as it is just a mass for the cardinals.
Audie, also important as this mass is concluding, and Pope Leo XIV and the cardinals will be having lunch together. Other choices that were made by the pope in this mass need to be highlighted, and that is that the readings, there were three of them. The first two were given by women.
And there was a profound power in the image that the Vatican released of -- the of the mass. You saw the sea of cardinals in red with their white hats, and then in the front, a nun in her simple black habit, reading that first reading.
Women reading those two readings, Audie, crucial. It's hard to read too much into it, but certainly, can be seen, given the significance of the moment. The pope's choice to let that happen as a statement about the role of women, which is seen by so many as perhaps the single most important issue facing the church and its future.
So, seeming to imply that Pope Leo is continuing with some of the push and reforms of Pope Francis. We'll see how he truly fills that name, Leo XIV, how he defines that. But those images and the homily that we have just heard have continued
to send that signal loud and clear as history is made. And that mass wraps, Audie, they will go to lunch. And Pope Leo XIV will continue to show the world what it actually will mean to have the first American pope.
[06:05:07]
CORNISH: It was a moving homily. Erin Burnett, thanks so much. I've been enjoying your coverage out of the Vatican.
BURNETT: Thanks, Audie.
CORNISH: So obviously, there's been a lot of excitement around the world, but especially in the U.S. with this historic choice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CHEERING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: The new leader of the world's Catholics is Cardinal Robert Prevost. He grew up in Chicago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CHANTING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Even U.S. Catholics, full of pride and overcome with excitement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's the first pope to hail from America.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm feeling great, feeling really good, because he's a good man and I predicted him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you know --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was really excited, you know. Like having the leader of the Catholic Church be from the same country as I am just felt -- like, I just felt very proud.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: USA! USA! USA!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: USA! USA! USA!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would have never expected an American to become pope in a million years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: The new pope addressed the faithful in St. Peter's Square with this message yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE LEO XIV, LEADER OF CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translator): Peace be with you all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Joining me now in the group chat, Jerusalem Demsas, staff writer with "The Atlantic"; Rob Bluey, president and executive editor of "The Daily Signal"; and Lulu Garcia-Navarro, "New York Times" journalist and podcast host.
So, you guys, thank you so much for being here. There was at least one person in the entire world who says he predicted this because -- and he happened to be there. Everybody else was surprised.
Many a good headline and tweets out of it. One of them I liked was "deep dish eucharist." There's a lot of Chicago vibes.
LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: A lot of Chicago stuff.
CORNISH: OK. Yes, I don't want to ruin it with American politics, but it's coming just by virtue of the choice. Can you talk about what you've seen in the reactions?
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Yes. I mean, I think it's been interesting. Obviously, the minute that he was announced, everyone started looking at his social media feed. because that's what happens.
CORNISH: Yes.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Even if you're the pontiff.
CORNISH: Even if you're the pope.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Even if you are the infallible, now head of the Catholic Church.
CORNISH: View the tweets.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: You actually get your tweets. And lo and behold, there were tweets there that, you know, criticized some of the policies of Donald Trump in the first administration and J.D. Vance's comments, who -- he is a converted Catholic -- to do with immigration.
And that, I have to say, is pretty typical to -- of where the Catholic Church has stood under Francis. And beyond that, the Catholic Church is very involved in immigration.
But the way that it's being interpreted inside of this country because of its polarized politics is that then you've seen a lot of the MAGA crowd, including Laura Loomer and others, really just go after this pontiff, calling him the "woke pope."
And so already, this is being filtered through -- CORNISH: Yes.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: -- our very, very distorted and disturbing politics.
CORNISH: Unsubscribe, unsubscribe.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Unsubscribe. And so, it remains to be seen how active he takes a role in this.
CORNISH: Rob, what do you think of this?
ROB BLUEY, PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE EDITOR, "THE DAILY SIGNAL": Well, I agree with you, particularly on the point of immigration. I mean, as somebody who is an Episcopalian, who is in the process of converting to Catholicism, I mean --
CORNISH: You are?
BLUEY: I am.
CORNISH: You are the Gen Z conversion guy that we've been talking about this week.
BLUEY: I'm older than that.
CORNISH: No, man, maybe it's moisturizer. Go on.
BLUEY: No, I think, though, on other issues, traditional issues like the issue of life, I mean, obviously, he's -- he's made statements that are opposed to abortion. And -- and also against the death penalty.
And so, I think that there will be traditional stands where he aligns with conservatives in this country, as Francis did. And there will be other issues where they differ.
JERUSALEM DEMSAS, STAFF WRITER, "THE ATLANTIC": And I think it's interesting, though, because this is kind of how Catholics are. It's -- you know, they're conservative on abortion. They're conservative on LGBTQ rights, and they are open to immigration. And they take that role very seriously.
And so, I think it's funny for everyone to try to read into, you know -- not on this panel, but everyone on social media constantly "woke pope, not woke pope." It's like, that's just kind of how all Catholics are.
CORNISH: Yes, but also not relevant. This is not a party leader in the United States. This is not like a lobby group in the United States.
And I do think with this choice, there's a sense that the cardinals were sending a bit of a message because this guy is an expert in canon law, like you can't have one of your little arguments as a new convert about "like, well, actually." You can't "But actually" the new pope is what I'm saying. DEMSAS: Yes. I think what's interesting is that, you know, Pope
Francis did engage in political conversations and intervene in ways that were important, not just in the United States, but all over the world.
[06:10:10]
And that's -- popes do that.
CORNISH: Yes.
DEMSAS: They -- I mean, the pope's political? News breaking.
CORNISH: Absolutely. It's a head of state. We remember that the late Pope Francis met with Vice President J.D. Vance right before he died.
And Francis had also called the Trump administration's immigration crackdown a disgrace as recently as February. He's still sick now, right? And he is sending a letter to U.S. bishops that said, "The act of deporting people who, in many cases, have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty or persecution, damages the dignity of many men and women and places them in a state of particular vulnerability."
So, I think it's not a total shock.
BLUEY: It's not a total shock. And remember, there's a dispute right now between the Trump administration and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops -- Bishops, in part because Catholic Charities has been in the past used as a vehicle to resettle legal immigrants in this country all over the place.
And so, the Trump administration, when they cut that funding, they, I think, butted heads with -- with the USCCB. And I don't know how they resolve that.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Yes, I mean, the Catholic Church has always -- not just in this country, but all over the world -- really centered the plight of migrants, people who move because of war, because of political turmoil as part of their mission.
I mean, to be a Catholic is to welcome the stranger.
CORNISH: Yes.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: And so, that is really part of what Catholicism teaches. And yes, at times, it will put you at odds with any government.
CORNISH: Which if -- I encourage people to listen to the homily. He does actually talk about that -- that friction.
You know, I want to end this by saying that, ironically, we can't even confirm that these tweets are his. CNN has not done that yet. But this is the age we're living in, in social media, where the engine has roared to life, right, as people start to bicker about stuff. And the truth is not yet clear. Group chat, stay with me. We've got more to talk about. We're going to
learn more details about this pope.
Also coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, will the U.S. help de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan? Well, honestly, it doesn't look like it. Why the vice president says it's, quote, "none of our business."
Plus, a convicted killer sentenced. The key testimony at the hearing from the man he killed, how that happened. We'll tell you more.
And former President Joe Biden weighs in on the 2024 election, his V.P.'s loss, and if he thinks he could have won.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you take any responsibility for Trump's reelection?
JOE BIDEN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Yes, I do, because, look, I was in charge; and he won. So, you know, I take responsibility.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:17:06]
CORNISH: Former President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, sat down on "The View." Let's just say they came ready to play. They discussed everything from his age on the campaign trail to President Trump's return to the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So why do you think the vice president lost? And were you surprised?
BIDEN: I've never seen quite as successful and consistent campaign undercutting the notion that a woman couldn't lead the country. And a woman of mixed race.
UNIDENTIFIED FAMEL: Do you take any responsibility for Trump's reelection?
BIDEN: Yes, I do, because, look, I was in charge; and he won. So, you know, I take responsibility.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: OK. Group chat is back for a bit of a lightning round. What do you make of him coming out now? And specifically, the things he is addressing -- Jerusalem.
DEMSAS: That interview. I mean, there's so much that can be said. I'll keep it short.
But his decision to blame sexism and racism for Harris's loss, I think, is such a disservice to both women politicians who, again, we've seen all over the world women being able to become prime ministers, presidents. In this country, women actually often have an election premium in many races and senatorial races, in legislative races.
Obviously, that glass ceiling hasn't been broken yet, but people differed with Biden and Harris on policy and on the betrayal they felt from the president on -- when they saw him on the debate stage. So --
BLUEY: Yes, I'll say I agree with that. And I also will say that I think it confirmed why Democrats wanted to move on from Biden. I mean, he gave rambling answers. At one point, Jill Biden had to step in and kind of save him at the end, when Alyssa Farah asked a question.
And so, you know, frankly, probably the fewer interviews he does these days, the better.
CORNISH: I think there's a rehab of his image going on, very clearly, what he wants his legacy to be.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Yes, there's a rehab. He's fighting for his legacy. Lots of reporting to come on this; books coming out, which is -- he's trying to get in front of.
But what I will say is that I do think Republicans have overstepped the mark. They have, like -- keep on saying that he was gaga, being spoon-fed in the Oval Office, et cetera, et cetera. I mean, come on.
He -- he clearly is an elderly man. There's a lot more to uncover, but he is not --
CORNISH: Each one of these performances you think could counter what has become --
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Yes. I mean, I think it counters what is, I think, an extreme position that's been taken on the far right.
CORNISH: And one other thing I want to add. The former first lady being asked directly about his supposed cognitive decline and her basically saying, look, the people who wrote these books, they weren't in the White House with us. They didn't see him every day.
But also saying, like, I wasn't hiding him in a room somewhere. And to your point, you think it's getting ahead of something?
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Well, it's getting ahead of her role, because if you will remember, you know, a lot of people have blamed her for protecting him and insulating him. And so, she is trying to also protect her own legacy here.
CORNISH: Yes. All right, guys, stick around. We've got a lot more to talk about in the news today.
Still ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, the leader of FEMA is now out of a job. Why his comments defending the agency might have got him fired.
[06:20:04]
Plus, how the new pontiff's past could influence his future as Pope Leo XIV. His first mass is wrapping up now, and he actually delivered part of his homily in English. We're going to bring that to you in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:24:43]
CORNISH: Catholics have a new pope. But what do we know about the man known as Leo XIV?
Well, he was born Robert Prevost in Chicago. His most recent job was at a Vatican office that appoints bishops, a role he was personally given by late Pope Francis.
Last year, he said it was his time in Peru that shaped him more than anything else.
[06:25:04]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE LEO XIV: I just can only say how gifted I feel because of what I gained from my years working in Peru. And I hope that every priest can say that about wherever he works. Because if I'm so convinced that if we open our lives and our hearts to serve others, we indeed, like the gospel says, receive a hundredfold in this life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: With me now to discuss is Katie McGrady, CNN's Vatican analyst and host on the Catholic Channel on Sirius XM.
He gave his first homily today, and I think some of the first words out of his mouth were in English, which I didn't think was so remarkable, but turns out it is.
KATIE MCGRADY, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: I think it's notable that he can speak English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and can read German and Latin, which means he truly can communicate with the world.
And there's just something about the pope speaking the language that you know. I was sitting in the makeup room, and everybody kind of gasped. We were so excited to hear his voice speaking to us.
So, I think it's -- he's speaking in such a way to where we have to listen.
CORNISH: Interesting. And also, you were noting that he's an expert in church canon, right?
MCGRADY: Yes, canon law. CORNISH: We've looked at different parts of his credentials, but this one struck you? Why?
MCGRADY: It did. You know, he went -- he got his mathematics degree from Villanova, and then he studied at the Catholic Theological Union. And then he -- he got to go to Rome to study canon law.
And so, that means he's very attuned with the particulars of the church, the canon laws of the church. People can rattle them off when they've studied it.
CORNISH: Yes.
MCGRADY: But most of us don't know the ins and outs. We know annulments. But he studied it, got a doctorate, was a missionary while writing his dissertation.
CORNISH: I was joking that you can't "but actually" this church.
MCGRADY: No.
CORNISH: This pope.
MCGRADY: You can't. Absolutely note.
CORNISH: He's going to know the answer.
MCGRADY: And that clarity. It's notable that the two times we've seen him speak, he's used his notes. He's going to be a very personable -- You can tell already. There's a video circulating of him signing a little girl's autograph book, but I think he's going to speak with clarity. And the canon law elements of his education show that, too.
CORNISH: What should we be looking for in the days ahead? I think he's actually going to be speaking to media today.
MCGRADY: Monday, I think.
CORNISH: OK.
MCGRADY: And who knows. We might see a pope do a press scrum. I wouldn't be surprised. It's not like he couldn't answer everybody's questions.
CORNISH: Yes.
MCGRADY: I'm going to be interested to see where he visits first and a first apostolic trip. Maybe he'll pop over to Saint Mary Major.
And I'm also going to be interested to see, in the coming days, how he signals to the world, this is what I'm working on. This is what I'm thinking about. This is how I'm going to engage the moment.
CORNISH: Yes, we know what he cares about, but we don't know where he's going to engage as a head of state.
OK, Katie. As always, lovely to have you.
MCGRADY: Thanks.
CORNISH: Thanks so much for your work this week.
MCGRADY: Thanks.
CORNISH: All right, you guys. On CNN THIS MORNING next, we're going to be talking about more changes in the Trump administration. First, it was Pete Hegseth and Sean Duffy. Now, President Trump taps another FOX News host for a job in D.C.
Plus, the Menendez brothers trying to convince a judge to remove the entire prosecution team from their resentencing case.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
