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American-Born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost Becomes Pope Leo XIV; Russia Celebrates Victory Day; European Leaders Pledge Further Support for Ukraine; U.S. Cardinals Speak After Electing First American Pope; Israel Continues Deadly Siege on Gaza in the past Week; India and Pakistan Trade Blame Amid New Fighting; India Reacts to Escalating Conflict in Pakistan; Family of Tailors Has Clothes Popes for Generations. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired May 09, 2025 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:44]

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome back to CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Here are your headlines.

Pope Leo XIV led his first mass this morning at the Sistine Chapel. The first American pontiff made history by delivering the opening words of his

homily in English. He called on the cardinals in attendance to make themselves small, echoing the humble approach of his predecessor.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping was guest of honor in Moscow earlier, as Russia commemorated 80 years since the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Dozens of

world leaders attended the parade, including the presidents of Brazil and the Palestinian Authority.

Well, Chinese exports to the U.S. dropped 21 percent in April, the first month of Trump's new tariffs. What's surprised some economists, Chinese

exports overall last month were up 8.1 percent. Global markets climbed overnight in anticipation of trade talks between the U.S. and China this

weekend in Switzerland, and are certainly out of the gate this morning looking much better as well.

Right. We are following history in the making at the Vatican, where the first American Pope led his first mass. Earlier today, Pope Leo XIV also

making history with the words he used beginning his homily, one of the central parts of the Catholic mass in English.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE LEO XIV, CATHOLIC CHURCH LEADER: Through the Ministry of Peter, you have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission. And

I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, Pope Leo went on to call on the cardinals to make themselves small, an appeal that seemed to echo the humble approach of the

late Pope Francis, his predecessor, in leading the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

Well, CNN's David Culver was in the crowd yesterday for Pope Leo's first public appearance as pontiff, and this is his report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID CULVER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The smoke signaled and the crowd responded.

Oh. Oh, my gosh.

(Voice-over): Thousands flocking into St. Peter's Square, waiting, watching. Then, the moment. An American representing both the United States

and Latin America stepping onto the balcony as Pope.

This is all you could see from here. But it didn't matter. You were here. You were living it.

You can still see the smoke.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. White smoke, finally.

CULVER (voice-over): Hours earlier, before the smoke, before the crowd, before the cheers, we were across town at the Pontifical North American

College.

REV. ANTHONY LIGATO, ASSISTANT VICE RECTOR AT A SEMINARY COLLEGE: So Santa Marta is right over there.

CULVER: Oh, wow.

(Voice-over): From a quiet rooftop with a clear view of the Vatican, Father Anthony Ligato and his seminarians were preparing to witness history, not

knowing at the time how close to home it would hit.

LIGATO: Now which one of them is going to be anointed by the Holy Spirit to be the next Holy Father? The spirit knows. That's already been decided.

CULVER: But they would have to wait for the reveal. Fortunately, patience is something 30-year seminarian Reed Robinson understands well. He's waited

a long time to wear this collar.

REED ROBINSON, ATTENDING SEMINARY COLLEGE: I've never had a moment when I didn't want to be a priest. So before I can remember, I always wanted to be

a priest. I remember when I was a little kid, I couldn't wait for first communion so that I could start altar serving. There's pictures of me when

I'm 7 years old, you know, like this high wearing, you know, wearing the light, walking down the aisle, helping the priest out.

CULVER: Now living in Rome, far from his home in Tennessee, Reed knew exactly where he needed to be when the time came.

ROBINSON: Actually, there was a note sent out to our university that should there be white smoke while you're in class, everyone is free to go,

including the professors. It won't be counted against you, and actually, you should go as fast as you can down to the square.

CULVER: And that's what they did, pouring into St. Peter's Square, boosted on shoulders, climbing over barricades. All for a better view.

But it wasn't about what you could see so much as what you could feel. The weight of the moment, the unity around you.

[10:05:00]

ROBINSON: Wow. Yes, yes. American.

CULVER: Only after the crowds begin to clear did we spot a familiar face. Reed, all smiles, still stunned.

ROBINSON: It's such a blessing to be -- I mean, standing here in the square. I'm looking at St. Peter's. You know, my walk home is five minutes.

I mean, I can't thank the Lord enough. I mean, it's such a gift to be able to be here, be with you all, be with, you know, 40,000 of my closest

friends.

CULVER: Now to say there's an American Pope.

ROBINSON: Yes, oh, my goodness.

CULVER: I mean, Reed, how do you process it?

ROBINSON: Just -- I mean, smile and pray. Smile and pray. I mean, it's exciting. We're sent here to Rome. The American College was sent here and

founded so that men could come and grow and love for the Holy Father. And now it's, you know, after doing that for three years and coming to love

Pope Francis, being able to mourn his loss, and then now welcoming an American Pope, it's incredible.

CULVER: Take me back to the Reed Robinson as a 7-year-old altar server.

ROBINSON: Yes, yes.

CULVER: Did you imagine this moment ever?

ROBINSON: Never. No, I could not have imagined it. I mean, goodness, yes, the biggest surprise. Yes. Being here for this moment, especially.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: All right, let's connect you to Russia now, where Chinese leader Xi Jinping was guest of honor as Moscow commemorated 80 years since the

Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Dozens of world leaders attended a huge military parade in the Russian capital. In a heavily

patriotic speech, Vladimir Putin addressed the conflict in Ukraine, insisting that law and justice were on his side.

Fred Pleitgen is in Moscow's Red Square and he joins us now -- Fred.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Becky. And it certainly was a huge event that we witnessed there on Red Square.

The Russians saying this was the most grand of the Victory Day parades that they had ever put on. Obviously, a very important date for them, not just

because it is Victory Day, but because it is 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany, and certainly the Russians putting on a massive show.

We saw thousands of soldiers, we saw a lot of military technology. What you're seeing right now on your screen is some of the drones, actually,

that the Russians say that they're using and what they still call their special military operation in Ukraine. The Russian Air Force flying as

well. But of course, there were certain things that definitely stood out. And I think one of the things that you just mentioned is certainly one of

them, and that is how close Vladimir Putin and China's leader Xi Jinping were throughout that entire ceremony, and really throughout the past two

days that Xi Jinping has been on the ground here in Moscow.

They were sitting not just side by side next to one another, but they were also both wearing those red, those, I'm sorry, those orange and black

Russian patriotic ribbons, as were many of the other leaders who were in attendance. You mentioned some of them before. There was also Aleksandar

Vucic of Serbia who was here, leaders of Belarus, of Cuba, of Venezuela, Vietnam, Laos, many other countries as well.

So for the Russians, very important to show that there are still many heads of state who are willing to travel here to Moscow and to witness the parade

as it took place. Now, one of the things, of course, that's being talked about, Becky, here in the Russian capital as well, was what President Trump

said overnight, calling once again for that 30-day ceasefire and threatening sanctions of such a ceasefire is not upheld.

I was actually able to speak to a very senior Russian senator who didn't seem too impressed by Donald Trump's threats. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: Do you believe that President Trump can still broker a peace deal?

KONSTANTIN KOSACHEV, DEPUTY SPEAKER, RUSSIAN FEDERATION COUNCIL: He is most welcome. He is most welcome to do what he can do. But of course, we have

our basic interests in this crisis, and we will not give up these interests just for the reason somebody in Washington or elsewhere sees this or that

about the crisis. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: That was Konstantin Kosachev, senior Russian senator, speaking to me earlier today, saying that obviously Russia has its core interests,

which is, of course, Becky, the same line that we've been hearing over the past couple of weeks from the Kremlin, also from other Russian entities as

well as it seems that peace initiative that the Trump administration has put in place appears to be somewhat stalling.

And we could, of course, also ascertain that from President Trump himself seemingly getting more impatient specifically with the Russian side --

Becky.

ANDERSON: Good to have you, sir.

Let me get to Ukraine and the view from there. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh joins me now.

That of course the pomp and pageantry, Nick, of Moscow today. What's the story there?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, look, things are moving fast on the diplomatic front. You heard some

of it from Fred there. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that tomorrow they are preparing for a meeting of the leaders of the Coalition of the

Willing. Now, he didn't name where or who, but I think it's fair to suggest we might be talking about some pretty senior European leaders, many of whom

have been on the phone with Donald Trump in the past 24 hours.

French President Emmanuel Macron indeed has just posted that he last night spoke several times to Donald Trump and suggested that he got from Trump an

assurance, support for the European peace plan for here.

[10:10:06]

Trump was also on the phone to the new German Chancellor Merz, and also, too, we are hearing he spoke to Zelenskyy as well. Thats their second phone

call since the Oval Office blow-up. A large amount happening here. And a European official suggesting to me that they feel here they finally have

the pressure they need in order to try, I think, and push this idea of an unconditional 30-day ceasefire onto the Russians.

Nobody is sure if the Russians will accept. You heard Fred there suggesting that's not something they're keen on. But it does look from all the phone

calls that we've been seeing happen, this flurry of activity, the meeting in Lviv of over 30 European leaders discussing the need for a criminal

process to prosecute the war crimes of Russia in its full scale invasion, again voicing support for this 30-day ceasefire that we're seeing momentum

here, principally from the Europeans, but clearly feeling they have the wind of U.S. support in their sails.

You've heard President Donald Trump and his security officials saying over the past weeks that they are increasingly impatient with this process, at

times careful to suggest they're impatient both with Kyiv and Moscow equally, but also, too, Trump recently suggesting that he might have to

take measures if he felt President Putin was tapping him along.

Putin clearly had his day in red square, but it appears now that we're moving into a new phase where the Europeans may want to get together and

project a message of unity and pressure upon Russia to agree to this ceasefire.

I should point out, Becky, we are nearly in the middle of another unilaterally declared Russian ceasefire, and they declared one of about 30

hours over easter. They said that midnight last night, so about over 30 hours ago now, there would be another 72-hour ceasefire. On the front line

you saw an earlier report as that kicked in, artillery still being fired by Russia, a drone unit. We were at noon yesterday, still seeing activity

across the front lines. 700 violations say Ukrainian officials. Over 100 bombs launched less or maybe no attack drone, Shahed drones, over the skies

or ballistic missiles. But everything else pretty much as normal -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Nick Paton Walsh has been on the front lines. He's back in Kyiv. It's good to have you. Thank you.

Folks, I want to get you to Rome. We are hearing from the American cardinal electors who took part in the conclave. Let's listen in.

CARDINAL JOSEPH TOBIN, ARCHBISHOP OF NEWARK: In the former cardinal Bob Prevost, who I've known for about 30 years, worked with him. I -- after one

of the ballots, you know, you carry your ballot to the front of the hall, you deposit it, and you say a few words in Latin to say, I'm standing

before God. And Michelangelo reminds you of our ultimate destiny. And as best as I can say, this is the one that I think is indicated.

Then I walk back and I took a look at Bob, and because his name had been floating around, and he had his head in his hands, and I was praying for

him because I couldn't imagine what happens to a human being when you're facing something like that. And then when he accepted it, it was like he

was made for it. He just -- all of whatever anguish was resolved by the feeling that I think that this wasn't simply his saying yes to a proposal,

but God had made something clear, and he agreed with it. So it was a kind of an interesting few days.

CARDINAL BLASE CUPICH, ARCHBISHOP OF CHICAGO: Well, I'm batting cleanup. And I hope this is my first conclave, and I hope my last. So Viva El Papa.

(LAUGHTER)

CUPICH: But one of the things that I come away with is just imagine, we were over 130 people with different languages, cultures, backgrounds from

more than 70 countries, and within 24 hours we were able to come to unity in making a decision. I hope that's a signal to the world that we can reach

across our differences in culture, language, country, nationality, and work together to solve the problems that are there, that we have the opportunity

to reconcile and have peace.

[10:15:02]

And I think it's instructive that Pope Leo began his message to people in the square by offering them the peace of Christ. So I really had -- I saw

this as a really a spiritual experience of not only going through the motions of praying for the Holy Spirit, singing the "Veni Creator," but

actually having an experience of how we were able to treat each other with great respect, to listen to each other during the congregations beforehand,

and then when it came time for voting, things seemed to just gel and go in a direction that set us on a path of unity.

And that's what I really come away with from this experience. If only the rest of us in our lives and in the world could have that mad dash to unity

that we seem to have in the conclave.

CARDINAL WILTON GREGORY, ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS OF WASHINGTON, D.C.: This was one of the most prayerful moments in my life. My first conclave. And I

could not be more grateful that it happened in the holy year of hope, that we are pilgrims of hope. Something that Pope Francis had initiated. I felt

comfortable saying to Pope Leo from one South Side of Chicago to another.

I promise you, my respect, my fidelity and my love. It was just an amazing opportunity to see such a diverse assembly of humanity obviously coming

from many different perspectives, facing many different challenges, but coming together for a common purpose, to find Peter's successor. And I

think we did well.

CARDINAL ROBERT MCELROY, ARCHBISHOP OF WASHINGTON, D.C.: Is one who is very American and habits, tastes and attitudes. I always thought it would be

impossible to have an American Pope in my lifetime, but I have to say, as we entered into the Sistine Chapel, it's a magnificent, ethereal experience

because we were coming in together two by two, and the "Litany of Saints" was being sung to remind us that we're in union with all the saints who

have come before us in the Kingdom of Heaven.

And at that moment, as we came in with the last judgment in front of us, that magnificent painting which brings to the fore the whole of humanity in

all of its joy and accomplishment and all of its hardship and struggle and failing all sense of those divisions within the world fell away. And I felt

we were looking at that moment into the souls of one another to find who should carry on this incredibly important mission at this moment in time.

Some of you may remember, John the 23rd called his autobiography the "Journal of a Soul." And I really think in the discernment that went on and

the prayer that went on, we were looking for the soul who has the capacity at this moment of time, to be the -- really be a witness to Christ. And

there was a great movement on the second day, a great movement within the body that was there. And it could be nothing other than the grace of God

moving us toward this consensus, which I thought would have taken a lot more time to get to.

And in thinking of Cardinal Prevost now, Pope Leo, what comes to mind is a phrase that was so much at the center of Pope Francis's pastoral ministry,

missionary discipleship, that we are all called to be missionary disciples in the world, building the kingdom of God in the ways brought to us that we

can in the lives we live out every day. And in a very real sense, Cardinal Prevost in his life has been, at its core, a missionary in every way.

[10:20:08]

And in the great missionary tradition of the church, but also in his own life as a missionary within his family, within his religious community,

within the parishes where he served, in the diocese where he served, and now for the world. And in a very real sense, we are in the city of the

great missionaries of Christianity, Peter and Paul. If you ask, what were they citizens of? Paul was, in a real sense, a citizen of Tarsus and of

Rome. Peter was a citizen of Galilee, but they each became missionary at their core and came to this place in Rome and gave their lives.

And I believe that's what Cardinal Prevost, now Pope Leo. is doing and is at the heart of who he is and who he will be in the life of the church.

ANDERSON: Well, we've been hearing from the American cardinal electors who took part in the conclave.

Ines San Martin is vice president of communications for the Pontiff Mission Societies in the United States. She joins us now live from Rome.

What did you make of the ceremony today and how surprised were you ultimately at the election of we now know to be Pope Leo?

INES SAN MARTIN, VP, THE PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES: I have to say what we saw today, the ceremony was extremely, extremely

beautiful. It talked in many, many ways of continuity, obviously with Pope Francis, but also with his immediate predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. I

don't know if you noticed, but when Pope Leo XIV was walking into the church, he was carrying a golden cross.

That cross was made specifically for Pope Benedict XVI, and the way he talked to his brother cardinals in which he mentioned something Pope

Francis has said before, which is the way a lot of Catholics are living their lives right now, it truly shows that there are too many baptized who

are basically atheists, or not really embracing the gospel. And that call to go out there and be missionaries.

In terms of how surprised I was, I have to say, having read the profile of my great colleague John Allen in the Web site Crux, I kind of saw that this

man truly was a strong, strong candidate. Obviously, the American element, the fact that he's the least American among the American cardinals, long

experience as a missionary in Peru, and last but not least, he knows the Vatican well enough having worked in it but also its not really a part of

it.

ANDERSON: Yes, that's fascinating, which begs the question, are there areas where you expect a departure from Pope Francis's positions? Who will Pope

Leo be?

SAN MARTIN: I think that the biggest departure we're going to see from Pope Francis is the fact that Pope Leo truly is a man who has two ears, two eyes

and one mouth. And by that, what do I mean? This is a man who hears, listens a lot, pays a lot of close attention, and only after he has made a

decision does he open his mouth and share what he's thinking, what he believes. So in that sense, we're going to see a Pope who is a lot less off

the cuff, a lot less of an improvised speech writer, which we obviously saw yesterday when Pope Leo XIV came out for the very first time on the central

balcony in St. Peter's Basilica, and he read his prepared remarks instead of just greeting abbraccio.

ANDERSON: That's interesting that you say that. I just want to follow up briefly on that. So, are you implying he will be less political? I mean,

when you say less prepared to sort of talk off the cuff, are you talking about Pope Francis's positions on things like Gaza, for example?

SAN MARTIN: I think he's going to, in many ways, be a very political Pope. Leo XIII was a man who led the Catholic Church at a time of the Industrial

Revolution, and he was not afraid of speaking up. In similar ways Pope Leo XIV, we are living what many have told me already is a Copernican

Revolution in terms of politics, but also in terms of what's happening with artificial intelligence, what's happening with micro robotics.

And this is a Pope who's going to truly engage society, obviously, the Catholic Church, the faithful, but politics as well.

ANDERSON: Interesting. Well, we will see in the weeks and months to come. It's good to have you, Ines. Thank you so much.

We've just had a lot of comments, a lot of thoughts about hope, where the world is and sort of a very positive sort of atmosphere set by those

American cardinal electors.

[10:25:03]

We know that the Pope was outspoken about Gaza, for example, and CNN following developments on Gaza's humanitarian crisis. The U.S. ambassador

to Israel, Mike Huckabee, announced a short time ago that a renewed aid operation is set to start soon. Details, he says, are still being worked

out, but the operation will be carried out by multiple partners and does not depend on a ceasefire.

It's been rejected by the U.N. and many other aid agencies as unfeasible. At a news conference earlier, Huckabee was questioned about the plan by

CNN's Jeremy Diamond. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: You acknowledge that there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza right now?

MIKE HUCKABEE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: If there wasn't a humanitarian crisis, there wouldn't be an effort to try to deal with it. So the answer

is obviously yes. There is a humanitarian crisis. That's why we need a humanitarian aid program going in. And it's also why it needs to involve

all of the people of the world, government, non-government, nonprofit, everyone who has been saying there's a crisis, I expect them to step up and

to now join the effort to resolve it.

To the degree to which that crisis exists. I personally cannot answer that. It would have to be someone who is closer to the situation directly there.

DIAMOND: At best, about 60 percent of Gaza's population would be fed by this program. What about the other 40 percent?

HUCKABEE: Everything is planned to be scaled up. You have to start somewhere and the somewhere feeds an enormous level of the people of Gaza.

And then it scales up from there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, ahead of that exchange, Jeremy Diamond filed a report on Israel's continued barrage of deadly attacks on Gaza. And I have to warn

you, there are disturbing images in this piece that you may find difficult to watch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIAMOND (voice-over): Who can be saved and who is beyond saving. In the first seconds after this airstrike, it seems impossible to tell. After

shouting for an ambulance these men leave this bloodied boy in the middle of the road and head back to the scene. But his is not the only limp body

being rushed away. In the arms of some and carried on chairs by others critically wounded Palestinians are heaved into ambulances in the

flickering hope that they can be saved.

These motionless bodies are far from anonymous.

Dad, dad, this boy cries out over and over again, shock and fear etched into his voice and across his face.

Israel's target, this restaurant in Gaza city, where customers died at their tables, and where one man now tries to revive another. The man,

journalist Yahia Sobhy, won't survive. Hours after his daughter was born, he died wearing the same clothes he held her in.

This strike capped a deadly 24 hours in Gaza, during which Israel killed 97 people and injured over 200 more in strikes on just three locations,

according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. With a pink backpack still slung over his shoulders, this boy is one of at least two dozen children

killed in those strikes. He was killed when missiles struck a crowded marketplace blocks away from the restaurant.

The Israeli military said they killed Mohammed Barakat, whom they accused of kidnaping an elderly woman on October 7th. Earlier on Wednesday, an

Israeli strike hit a school housing displaced Palestinians in another Gaza City neighborhood. 15 were killed. No comment from the Israeli military. A

day earlier, another school turned shelter in central Gaza was the target not once but twice in the span of five hours, according to witnesses. The

Israeli military said it struck a Hamas command center.

In this graveyard of shredded tents once the school's courtyard, this man describes what he calls a night of horror.

This is what they drop on displaced people in an UNWRA school. Look at these rockets.

Anger here isn't just directed at Israel.

Hamas should get out of the school. They are hiding between the people. Get them out, this woman shouts.

For these girls grief is the only emotion now pouring out.

My friend Lin (PH) is gone. My friend Yuzra (PH) is gone. My friend Miral (PH) is gone. Like so many girls their age they had been planning a party

and were discussing what outfit they were going to wear when the airstrikes hit.

I was holding her hand. Her hand left me and she disappeared. I couldn't find her and ran to hide.

Hours later, her body lies among those of other dead children. Like them her final outfit, a white shroud.

Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[10:30:03]

ANDERSON: Well, the deadly impact on civilians from Israel's continued barrage of deadly attacks on Gaza. Well, I want to bring in Olga Cherevko,

who is an official with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Otherwise known as OCHA. Olga has been on the ground

in Gaza and has witnessed firsthand this devastating crisis unfolding. She joins us now from Rafah.

We've just been playing Jeremy's latest report and what is the latest deadly attacks over the last 24 hours. Of course, the humanitarian

situation simply gets worse on the ground. Details on a humanitarian plan, a U.S. plan, have been circulating. Nothing concrete has been announced

yet. Can you just explain why it is that OCHA and so many other aid organizations oppose this plan? What do you know about it and what is it

that your agency opposes?

OLGA CHEREVKO, UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS: Good afternoon, Becky. Thanks for the questions and thanks for

having me. So the plan that we have a very unanimous position as a humanitarian community is the plan that was presented to us by the Israeli

authorities in the way that it was presented at the time. This plan basically stands, stood in contravention of humanitarian principles, which

are globally established humanitarian principles of humanity, of independence, of impartiality and neutrality, of course.

And we had multiple concerns with this scheme that risked the aid or the supplies not actually reaching the people who are the most vulnerable,

whether it's mobility issues or any other limitations on being able to reach these proposed areas to collect supplies. This would also have put

civilians, including aid workers, at additional risk by exposing them to these militarized zones.

You're exactly right on the U.S. presentation, they -- it was a broad overview at this point. And we don't really have enough details to comment

further. But again, our positions remains the same that we have to operate within the bounds of these humanitarian principles. And we are willing to

engage with anyone who can provide us practical solutions, to provide principled aid and ease the suffering of the people here, that is.

ANDERSON: Right. So, let's just be quite clear about this because the need is absolutely huge at this point. From OCHA's perspective and from a

humanitarian point of view, what needs to happen? What is the counter to this proposal outlined without much detail, it has to be said, by Mike

Huckabee?

CHEREVKO: So it's very simple. We have a system that works. We had shown during the weeks of the ceasefire how quickly and effectively we can

deliver aid to the people and how quickly we can alleviate the suffering of the people who are absolutely exhausted, you're absolutely right, After all

these months of fighting, of displacement, of trauma and everything else. So this system has specific mechanisms to mitigate diversion, to mitigate

any kind of incidents that would divert this aid from going to the people that it needs to go to. And it ensures that the aid comes to where the

people are and not vice versa.

We have, for example, 400 distribution sites across Gaza. So we go to where the people are to make sure that the most vulnerable, who of course needs

this aid the most, are reached. And what needs to happen is the crossings need to reopen for the entry of cargo. And I'm not just talking about

humanitarian aid. I'm talking about the commercial center restarting, really a meaningful lifting of the blockade. That would alleviate the

suffering in a sustainable and a meaningful way.

ANDERSON: Ambassador Huckabee says this plan, this mechanism as outlined today at that press conference is not contingent on a ceasefire.

[10:35:06]

From your perspective, on the ground there in Rafah, this initiative, the U.S. one, not an Israeli one, we are being told, a mechanism, though, that

relies on Israeli security, so you have to ask whether there's really a difference here. But to your mind, being there on the ground, witnessing as

you do, observing as you do, what is going on, is it realistic to talk about a humanitarian effort? We've got to do good for Gaza is what Donald

Trump says without a ceasefire?

CHEREVKO: I mean, we have always said that to truly alleviate the suffering, to stop the trauma, to stop the killing, to stop the destruction

and displacement, four things need to happen. And that is for the ceasefire to be reinstated, for the civilians to be protected, obviously, for the

hostages to be released unconditionally and immediately, and for our work to be facilitated. And that, those things need to happen for any kind of

meaningful way forward.

ANDERSON: All of which relies on Israel. Correct? And Hamas, it has to be said, an agreement.

CHEREVKO: Obviously, the thing is hostilities may continue because they have already for 19 months. Despite this, even if they do, and we've, of

course, operated in this environment and we've stayed and delivered throughout, if they do this, the facilitation of aid and the protection of

civilians is non-negotiable.

ANDERSON: Listen, it's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed for joining us. Before I let you go, can you just describe how things are in

Rafah, where you are?

CHEREVKO: You know, honestly, I don't think any words are appropriate enough to really convey the anguish that people are feeling here because of

the fact that we're now in the third month of this blockade, since nothing has entered into Gaza. And people asked me every day, we don't know how

we're going to survive unless the situation changes. We don't know where we're going to find food. I don't know how to feed my baby. I don't know

what to do, really.

I mean, they're at such a loss and in such despair. I see children going through the trash. I see elderly people trying to find water. I spoke to a

girl in a school the other day who said her favorite thing used to be to wake up for school, and now the only thing that she has to do is to try and

find a queue for water or an open kitchen that's still open.

ANDERSON: Thank you for joining us, Olga.

Still ahead, more fighting, more accusations between India and Pakistan. We get the view from both countries in the midst of this latest conflict

between what are two longtime rivals. More on that is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:42:26]

ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Here are your headlines.

And Pope Leo XIV led his first mass this morning in the Sistine Chapel. The first American pontiff made history by delivering the opening words of his

homily in English. He called on the cardinals in attendance to make themselves small, echoing the humble approach of his predecessor, Pope

Francis.

China's President Xi Jinping was guest of honor in Moscow earlier, as Russia commemorated 80 years since the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

Dozens of world leaders attended the parade, including the presidents of Brazil and the Palestinian Authority.

Well, Chinese exports to the U.S. dropped 21 percent in April, the first month of President Trump's new tariffs. But the surprise of most

economists, Chinese exports as a whole were up more than 8 percent. Global markets mostly rising this Friday in anticipation of trade talks between

the U.S. and China this weekend.

An Indian military official is accusing Pakistan of launching hundreds of drones into India overnight. Pakistan denies that. The official says India

responded by launching drones at four air defense sites in Pakistan. This is the damage from a suspected drone attack in the Indian administered

portion of Kashmir.

Attacks inside India, Pakistan and in portions of disputed Kashmir that each administers have killed dozens of people. While the fighting persists.

A senior Pakistani source in Washington says that Pakistan is giving space for diplomacy to try to de-escalate tensions.

We want to get you the views from both countries, starting with Nic Robertson in Rawalpindi in Pakistan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes. When you're looking at Kashmir across that line of control, there has been intense

shelling. People are fleeing the border area right now. That's what we're understanding. Overnight, Pakistani officials told us that India sent more

drones into Pakistan. They sent 29, according to Pakistani officials, India sent 29 drones into Pakistan yesterday.

One of them came down here and I'm going to ask Javid just to give us a show and tell here. This is a cafe area. You see some of the metal work

ripped down here. Jevid (PH) if you can pan up, you can see there where the drone impacted on the building up there above us. And if you come down

here, you get a sense of, look, the shrapnel literally splashed all across the wall here.

[10:45:04]

It came down. This shrapnel marks all over the ground here. A piece of shrapnel lying on the ground. Now, it was about 1030 in the morning when

that happened yesterday. This area here is known as food street. Fortunately, at that time, it wasn't too busy. But the window fronts in all

these restaurants were blown out. They're being tidied up today. But right behind what you're looking at there is the Rawalpindi cricket stadium.

And there is a major cricketing event going on here. Well, there was, the Pakistan Super League, bringing in international players. It's the sort of

-- it's the main cricketing event of the year inside Pakistan. That, because the foreign minister said, actually it was the stadium that was the

target of the drone. The organizers of this cricketing event have put it on pause. They're moving it to the UAE. That's going to cost several millions

of dollars to do.

India, in the meantime, has also now pausing matches in the Indian Premier League. Major sporting event there as well. And it's ironic, if you will,

that cricket the sort of unifying thing for the youth of these two nations, is getting affected by these attacks. But this is what people are living in

fear of. Here yesterday, one man in his mid-20s was killed. Two people were injured.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You joined me in a very hot market in the middle of New Delhi, the Indian capital, where I've

been speaking to people about what they think of this increasingly dangerous standoff between India and neighboring Pakistan. And, you know,

the general sense you get here is that people are backing the Indian government.

They think that the Indian attacks on Pakistan were entirely justified. And that's something that's reflected by Indian officials that have been

speaking to as well, because they're saying that they carried out the airstrikes on Pakistan because of the terror attack, that they blame

Pakistan for. That took place in the Indian administered area of Kashmir last month.

Now, the security measures in place already the Indians have canceled schools, suspended schools in Jammu and Kashmir. They've suspended schools

elsewhere in Punjab Province as well, which is close to Pakistan. They've also canceled all the leave that civil servants are meant to have in this

country in preparation, they say, for a possible emergency response. So they are expecting, they say, attacks by Pakistan in the future, in the

coming days potentially.

And I think it's fair to say the country is on a state of alert. So very dangerous situation, particularly when you consider, of course, that both

India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons. We're a long way from a nuclear confrontation. But in an issue that is as tense and as emotional as this,

it is a danger that really everybody is having at the back of their minds.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Matthew Chance there. We're back after this quick break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:50:16]

ANDERSON: Well, Catholics all over the world have been celebrating since white smoke billowed out of that famous Vatican chimney, followed by the

words "Habemus Papam," which means we have a Pope. Well, American Cardinal Robert Prevost, or Bob to his mates, is now Pope Leo XIV. These are a few

voices from New York for you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's very surprising. I don't think anyone was really expecting an American Pope, especially given the candidates that we heard

about in the news. But it's very exciting and we hope he has a very good papacy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's kind of nice because I don't go to church as much as I should. And being here today kind of reinvigorates some of the

feelings that I had, especially being young with Pope John Paul II and now having an American. It's really exciting. My big hope is radical

inclusivity. I don't know if we're going to get there, but I hope we have a Pope that is inclusive, that accepts people for who they are, and that is

looking forward to the opportunity for more people to be active in their faith, regardless of their faith.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're due for an American Pope to have his background, to spend so much time in Peru. You know, like, who could be better?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think just, you know, not too many young people in religion these days. But we're hoping to change that and see a lot more

young people around.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, the late Pope Francis was known for dressing in a more informal way than his predecessors, using fashion as a signal of how he

approached the papacy. We don't know what the new Pope style will be, but we do know who his tailor is.

Ivan Rodriguez introduces us to the family that has clothed Popes for generations.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN RODRIGUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Around the corner from the iconic Pantheon in the heart of Rome, you'll find the Gammarelli family,

tailors to the clergy, from priests to Popes with more than two centuries of experience. Lorenzo Gammarelli says every Pope has his own style.

Keep in mind, it's not like making an outfit for another person, Lorenzo says. When it's for the Pope we concentrate fully on that outfit.

Since 1798 and the past eight conclaves, the Gammarelli family has prepared three outfits, small, medium and large for the elected new Pope. Alessia

Gammarelli recognizes her family's name is known globally, a great privilege, she says.

My father, uncles, my grandfather, they all worked here, says Alessia. I'm honored everyone comes to see. For this French tourist and then bringing

home a pair of socks for her priest, a memory he won't surely forget.

ROZENN DEDEYAN, FRENCH TOURIST: So we were in front of this very famous shop, and I knew that the Pope's socks came from here. So I asked him,

would you like a pair of socks from Gammarelli? And he said, well, if you insist. So we bought the socks.

RODRIGUEZ: Pope Francis became a Gammarelli client when he became a cardinal more than two decades ago. Now, Pope Leo XIV is the one wearing a

tailored outfit created inside this historic store.

Of the latest Pope, says Lorenzo, we were only able to guess Pope Benedict would be elected. All others were a surprise. A surprise thousands waited

to witness in Saint Peter's Square.

I'm Ivan Rodriguez, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, the U.S. Supreme Court has announced that retired justice David Souter has died. Even though he was nominated by Republican President

George H.W. Bush, he often sided with more liberal justices to the surprise of many conservatives. He served nearly 20 years on the court. Chief

Justice John Roberts said Souter brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service. He was 85.

I'll be back after this quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:55:37]

ANDERSON: Right. Before we let you go this Friday, tonight's "Parting Shots" and the sky lights up for Disney's magic. Yas Island here in Abu

Dhabi. In fact, this bureau, the CNN bureau is on Yas Island. Gave what it was a spectacular fireworks and drone show earlier this week to celebrate

the region's first ever Disney theme park. An orchestra and musical performances accompanied the show in the sky that really brought a sneak

peek of Disney's magic to the UAE.

And I sat down for an interview to discuss this unique partnership with Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks Experiences and Products, and

Mohamed Al Mubarak, who is chairman of Miral, which is developing and building the park. And you can find out more on CNN's Web site, on the app,

and check out our social platforms.

That's it for CONNECT THE WORLD. End of the week here from the team working with me it is a very good evening. Stay with CNN, though. "ONE WORLD up

next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END