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Erin Burnett Outfront
World's First American Pope Now Leads 1.4 Billion Catholics; Maria Shriver: Pope Leo XIV "The Kind Of Voice The World Needs"; Trump Touts "Comprehensive" Deal, Then Says "Final Details" Coming. Aired 7- 8p ET
Aired May 08, 2025 - 19:00 ET
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[19:00:27]
ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT next:
An American pope, a day in history. Chicago born Robert Prevost elected to lead the world's 1.5 billion Roman Catholics, a decision that stunned the world today. I'll speak to a bishop who knows Pope Leo XIV well.
Plus, Maria Shriver, one of the nation's most renowned Catholics, niece of America's first Catholic president, JFK, talks about her hopes for this new historic pope.
And Trump claims tonight he's made his first trade deal. Wait until you hear what he said when it comes to the details.
Let's go OUTFRONT.
And good evening. Welcome to this special edition of OUTFRONT. I'm Erin Burnett, live from Vatican City here in Rome, where history is unfolding before our eyes.
Chicago born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is now officially the first American pope. Pope Leo XIV is the name Prevost has chosen, a name that means lion in Latin, named after Pope Leo XIII, who was known for championing workers' rights and social justice.
It was just after noon Eastern when our team here saw the unmistakable puff of white smoke from Sistine Chapel just behind me. That white smoke, the signal that the 133 cardinals who had been in the conclave for just over 24 hours, had selected a new pope, meaning at least 89 of them. Obviously, probably significantly more. But 89 two thirds had to support the pope, and tens of thousands of people shoulder to shoulder, erupted in cheers at the at the site.
It was an outpouring of celebration, of joy, and that is before anyone had any idea who the new pontiff even was. And then there was the announcement, and we had to wait a long time for that as Pope Leo, then 69 years old, emerged on the balcony for the first time. That balcony straight behind me and the roar of the crowd was deafening.
And then the stunned -- people were stunned. An American pope who spent much of his career ministering in Peru. It is something no one expected. Maybe some had hoped, but no one expected.
The new pope clearly emotional. You could see him sort of swallowing heavily, clearly emotional, facing this crowd. Speaking to the cheers before him, and to the 1.5 billion Catholics and others listening around the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE LEO XIV, CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translator): Peace be with you all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: A powerful and uplifting moment to witness firsthand. Pope Leo taking his time to utter his first words on the world stage, and then continued with remarks that were thoughtful and measured and complete.
And while he invoked Pope Francis twice in his address to the crowd here, his introduction was very different than that of his predecessor. For starters, he wore the bright red shoulder cover that you can see and an ornate stole, in sharp contrast from the stark white attire that the Pope Francis wore more than a decade ago, when he appeared on that balcony for the first time.
As you can see, what Leo XIV chose is a return to a more traditional garb worn by the pontiffs, past popes have worn on the day they were announced. That is consistent with tradition.
And we've just got some new images here of Pope Leo today inside the Sistine Chapel. This is shortly after he was elected, when he was still with the cardinals. You can see them clapping as he walks by.
And then, take a look at this new video, this is Pope Leo just in. You can see him here in white. This was after he was pope. Just here, right at these colonnades near where I'm sitting, returning to where he had been staying right here in the Vatican.
And, of course, surrounded. You can see he takes the time there to pray and bless those who were there at this time. Of course, you see him there in white, but he is Pope Leo talking, and just hours from now, he will again return to the Sistine Chapel for a mass with those very same cardinals, his first as pope.
And this message of peace -- pope that -- peace that Pope Leo spoke about, is something that he has talked about at length and consistently over many years. So, we found an example in English speaking just last year at a church in Chicago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE LEO XIV: There's magnificent hope in this experience of bringing people together from around the world, literally, and saying, we want to be a part of what the church is and what the mission of the church is in the world today, which for so many reasons, I think is more and more important as time goes on, just the word -- you know, in terms of the conflicts and wars that are going on in the world today, we need promoters of peace.
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And I think there's perhaps no better promoter of peace than the gospel message. You know, blessed are the peacemakers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: And he is now Pope Leo XIV.
Christopher Lamb, our tireless Vatican correspondent, is OUTFRONT.
Christopher, you and I have spent a lot of time together, and today we were there. As I said, we'll never forget sharing that together, seeing the white smoke, witnessing this moment in history as this pope was introduced for the first time to the world. And you have been learning from your reporting now, more about what actually was going on behind the scenes that led to this historic, unexpected, and yet still swift decision.
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. That's right, Erin.
I mean, I think it's very clear that in the run up to the conclave, there was a number of cardinals who felt there could be a U.S. pope, an American pope, because there was a strong sense that nationality wasn't the most important thing. I spoke to Cardinal Oswald, Gracias, who was the retired archbishop of Bombay, a retired cardinal, and he said that there could be an American pope.
Of course, previously this had been thought unthinkable because of the power of the U.S. but Cardinal Robert Prevost is a pope who has worked outside of the U.S. he spent many years in Peru, and he's very much a figure who trans -- transcends national boundaries. I think the fact that this vote for Cardinal Prevost to be pope, Pope Leo the 14th, the fact that it took place in four, possibly five ballots, shows that a consensus emerged swiftly behind him.
Now, the way the conclaves work is a secret ballot, and that what happens is -- is frontrunners emerge quite quickly after the first vote and then it becomes very much a two-horse race. And because the of course, Pope Leo XIV emerged after four, possibly five ballots shows that a consensus formed around him very swiftly and the cardinals felt and believed that cardinal Prevost should be the 267th successor of St. Peter -- Erin.
BURNETT: It's really incredible and just something that that so many around the world did not expect, are still so stunned.
So, what else do we know about the man who is now Pope Leo XIV? And he is a young pope. He could be pope for 25 years.
Whitney Wild is OUTFRONT from the Chicago home where the new pope once lived.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITNEY WILD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in history, presenting himself to the world.
POPE LEO XIV: Peace be with you.
WILD: The 69-year-old Robert Prevost was born in Chicago. His father, Louis, an educator. His mother, Mildred, a librarian, according to "The Chicago Sun-Times".
He spoke about his early years in this interview with the Midwest Augustinians 10 years ago.
POPE LEO XIV: From a young age, I had sort of a sense that I would like to do some kind of service in the church. Priesthood was a part of that. Both of my older brothers studied at an Augustinian high school, Mendel High School, here in Chicago.
WILD: He attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania, earning a bachelors in mathematics before going on to receive his master of divinity from the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago.
SR. BARBARA REID, OP, PRESIDENT, CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL UNION: I have absolutely no doubt that our new pope, Leo XIV, will just be an extraordinary leader. We didn't think it was possible for an American to -- to be the person that the cardinals would choose. But he's a person that really has the heart of the whole church.
WILD: Today, we got a tour of where the pope lived during some of his time at the Catholic Theological Union.
FATHER JOHN LYDON, ORDER OF SAINT AUGUSTINE: Pope Leo actually worked here after he was our friar general, and he finished his term. He came and lived in this house and had the job that I presently have, the director of formation.
WILD: Pope Leo XIV has spent much of his life and career as a missionary in South America. He spent a decade in Trujillo, Peru, and served as a bishop in Chiclayo, another Peruvian city, from 2014 to 2023.
Pope Leo XIV is a dual U.S. and Peruvian national. According to Peru's National Migration Registry, he became a Peruvian citizen in August of 2015. Today, he outlined his vision for the church, echoing his path to becoming the 267th leader of the Catholic Church.
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POPE LEO XIV: We have to seek together to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges and dialogue.
WILD: Prevost just last year spoke at a Chicago area Catholic Church about how the church picks the pope it needs.
POPE LEO XIV: I truly believe that Pope Francis was elected by the College of Cardinals in 2013 because of the church at this time needs Francis. At a different time, we needed Pope Benedict. And at a different time, we needed Saint John Paul II, et cetera, et cetera.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WILD (on camera): Erin, what became abundantly clear here is that he is American by birth. He is international by choice. You imagine, he would say, God's choice.
But what Father John Lydon stressed to us is that he is a pope with a global mindset, and he will continue to bring that global -- that global orientation, that universal mindset to his new role leading the church -- Erin.
BURNETT: And OUTFRONT now, Bishop Robert Barron of the diocese of Winona, Rochester, Minnesota. He knows Pope Leo XIV, has known him over many years.
And Bishop Barron -- I mean, first of all, you know, you're here in Rome. You know, because of the conclave and spending time here. So, you hear there's an American pope.
BISHOP ROBERT BARRON, DIOCESE OF WINONA-ROCHESTER, MN: I was shocked. I was telling interviewers the days before the conclave they'd mention his name. I'd say, oh, he's a very accomplished guy, but they'll never elect an American pope. You know, America runs the world politically, economically, and a lot of the popular culture, they won't let an American run the church.
Well, I was wrong. That's why I was so stunned today when I -- when the name was announced.
BURNETT: I mean, do you -- do you feel that it was the cardinals making a statement, maybe that an embrace of America at a time when America has chosen to -- to move away in some of its relationships that the church was, was, was bringing America back? Is it -- is it perhaps something more?
BARRON: I don't know if it's that. I really think they chose the man. I mean, I think they recognize this man as uniquely qualified. You know, maybe other candidates that we talked about, maybe during the conclave, it became clear they just didn't have the support that we thought they had.
And I think they looked to him. A lot of them knew him. He was head of dicastery of bishops. A lot of bishops knew him.
He had a kind of international feel, an American. Yes, indeed, but worked in Latin America.
BURNETT: Yes.
BARRON: It's been here for some years, speaks Italian fluently and knows the curia. When you put all that together, you say, well, there's a very qualified guy about the right age for a pope, 69. I think they saw all that.
BURNETT: And he could have a very long papacy here, right?
BARRON: You know, it's interesting detail, Leo XIII, his namesake, was elected at 69 years of age, lived to be 93. So, he could be pope for 25 years.
BURNETT: One of the longest serving.
BARRON: Who knows? Who knows?
BURNETT: So, you know, obviously you knew him as a bishop as well. You've known him over many years and in that capacity. So how has your relationship grown over the years? What is your perception of him? When you say you believe they picked the man --
BARRON: Yeah.
BURNETT: -- who is the man?
BARRON: He's a good man. He's very thoughtful. He's conscientious. He's a quiet person, not a -- not a loud personality. Very thoughtful, very pensive. Reliable.
He's someone that they've chosen now as provincial of his Chicago province, then head of all the Augustinians around the world, then dicastery for bishops and now pope. So, a lot of people have found him to be a very reliable person. I find him very thoughtful, kindhearted, not a flashy personality, but the kind of guy that I think that they'd say, yeah, he has the responsibility that you need for a job like this.
BURNETT: Well, the word reliable is a good word.
BARRON: Yeah.
BURNETT: It is a good word.
Is there anything that you think may surprise people about him?
BARRON: I think he's a bridge figure. Maybe that will surprise them. The very fact that he came out on the balcony today with the mozzetta and the -- and the, you know, elaborate stole, which popes traditionally wear.
BURNETT: Yes.
BARRON: Pope Francis didn't, you know, 12 years ago.
BURNETT: Right.
BARRON: And that was making a statement. Well, he was making a statement, I think that would appeal to more conservative Catholics.
Also, the choice of the name, that's the first thing the pope does. And it's a great name, I think.
I'm a great admirer of Leo XIII, who's also a bridge figure. Conservatives find a lot to like in Leo.
BURNETT: You mean a bridge between conservatives and liberals? BARRON: Yeah, because Leo XIII is the father of the church's social
teaching tradition. Rerum Novarum, 1891. Also a man, though, that turned to Saint Thomas Aquinas as a bridge to the to modern thought.
Leo XIII was a -- was a kind of bridge builder. I think this -- Leo XIV will be, too.
BURNETT: So, there's an account that posted under Prevost's name in 2015, and they actually shared a column by Cardinal Dolan. The title of the column was "Why Donald Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic".
So, do you think we'll hear the pope speaking out on this issue?
BARRON: Well, I think so. He's coming out of Catholic social teaching tradition, you know?
[19:15:02]
So, when he advocates for immigrants, that's just part of our social teaching, as is a nation's right to defend its borders.
I mean, so both of those are elements within Catholic social teaching. But, sure, I think he'd just be consistent with that as pope.
BURNETT: All right. Well, Bishop, I really appreciate your time and thank you so much. I know it's a long, long day here, but it is a day in history.
BARRON: Yeah.
BURNETT: Certainly is.
All right. Thank you.
BARRON: God bless you.
BURNETT: And OUTFRONT next, one of America's best known Catholics, Maria Shriver, on her hopes for the American pope.
And President Trump weighing in now on the pope, the first American one.
And one of the GOP's biggest donors just now, saying tariffs opened the doors to crony capitalism. Strong words as the White House, after so many weeks of false promises, announces what it says is its first deal.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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BURNETT: Breaking news, live from Vatican City tonight where Pope Leo XIV is hours away from presiding over his first mass as the new leader of the Catholic Church. It comes as we have exclusive new CNN video.
So, our Dana Bash just spoke to former President Joe Biden about the choice of the first American pope. Here's what he told her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: I think it's great. I think he's a good -- he's a good friend of Francis. And he, you know, I think he's going to keep moving the church in a direction, being more ecumenical and reaching out. And I think that's all good.
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: I mean, you're the only -- you're only the second Catholic American president. And now we have the first American pope. Did you ever think you were going to see that?
BIDEN: Well, I -- it doesn't surprise me, but it seems to be a great deal.
BASH: Thank you, sir.
BIDEN: Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Incredible. And you talked about the church being ecumenical. Dana just happened to run into the former president on this historic day when they were both on an Amtrak train from New York. Just incredible. The president was on his way back home to Wilmington.
Well, Brynn Gingras is OUTFRONT live from St. Patrick's cathedral in New York, where many Catholics have been gathering to rejoice as they heard the news. Brynn, you were actually there when news broke, which had to have been shocking to everyone there, an American pope. As the name sinks in, Roberto is actually. Robert.
What were you hearing?
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, you know what, Dana? We're an ocean apart. But someone described it to me being here felt like being in a Vatican. It was that much excitement when news of the pope first came. And then, of course, who that Pope was.
Someone yelled out in the crowd, it's an American. It's an American. I mean, it was phenomenal. Everyone here on the steps were sitting there watching their phones, taking in this moment.
I actually spoke to one woman who said she's Catholic. She doesn't go to church very often, but she needed a reason for inspiration. And that's what drew her from Central Park all the way here to Saint Patrick's Cathedral. With news of this pope, because she just wanted to feel inspired. And she said she walked into that cathedral and prayed for this new pope.
I also talked to people who were actually in a mass when this new pope was announced. And it's funny, one of the women told me that the priest, you know, said he's been saying mass for the last couple of weeks, not able to pray for a pope because he didn't know who that pope would be. And today they were able to change that.
I want you to hear more from one of the women I spoke to who was inside that mass.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOROTHY NOVICIO, INSIDE ST. PATRICK'S MASS WHEN POPE WAS ANNOUNCED: The priest said, lets pray for the conclave. And then we did. And then just before mass is about to end there it goes. We have a new pope when it was announced. This is an American. Oh, God. We're just so grateful. So thankful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GINGRAS: You could just see the joy in people's faces, Erin. People are just so excited not only to have a new pope, but also that he is an American. And I keep hearing the same word across everybody's mouths -- hope. They hope that this pope brings new light to Catholics all across the globe -- Erin.
BURNETT: Brynn, thank you.
OUTFRONT now, Maria Shriver, 'New York Times" bestselling author and journalist, of course, also one of the most well-known Catholics in America and the niece of America's first Catholic president, John F. Kennedy.
So, Maria, now here we are, the first American pope. Did you ever think you would see this day?
MARIA SHRIVER, LIFELONG CATHOLIC: Yes, I did. I hoped to see this day in my lifetime and I'm so excited. I was born in Chicago two months after this pope. So I'm thinking about, wow, this is somebody who was born, lived in the windy city, spent time there, but is also a man of the world who knows about the world, lived obviously in Peru from -- I've been reading up on him just in the last couple of hours. People view him as open, humble, honest, trustworthy, direct.
That's the kind of voice the church needs. It's the kind of voice the world needs. And I think this is great for America. But most important, I think it's great for the Catholic Church and great for the world.
BURNETT: It's pretty amazing to think that you were born just a couple of months apart in Chicago. You know, that is a stunning coincidence, serendipity. I mean, what does this moment mean to you personally?
SHRIVER: Well, I think it's exciting. I understand that this is somebody who believed in the reforms that Pope Francis was trying to bring about in the church. I'm a woman in the church, right? He's a former altar boy.
[19:25:02]
I never grew up in a church that allowed girls to be altar boys. You now can see young women up on the altar, but I think we're in the midst of a changing church. And I think Pope Francis did a lot to address that. And I think more will be needed to address that. If we want to fill the churches not only in this country but around the world.
I think the pope's voice is really important. We're in a spiritual crisis, I think, throughout the world. I think his voice will really help people look at people who are other in different ways. I think his voice will help us love people, recognize our shared humanity. I think it will be good, I hope, for women in the church, which has always been a dream of mine, that women are more elevated in the church.
And this is somebody, as I said, born in Chicago in the '50s and spent a lot of time in this country and understands how so many parishes are run by women or the volunteerism of women is super important in the church. The role of women is certainly super important. The role of nuns super important.
And so, I'm excited. I'm thrilled by this choice, and I think it's going to be exciting to see what he does with it.
BURNETT: Maria, we found one post from an X account posting under Prevost's name, and it shared an article with the headline "J.D. Vance is wrong. Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others."
So, what do you think that the new pope means when you look at something like that for the direction of the church now?
SHRIVER: Well, I think that tells us a lot, right? It tells that he's going to wade into issues, that his voice is going to not be a shy one, that he's going to be courageous and he's going to remind us that Jesus didn't rank love, that Jesus was about loving everybody, whether no matter your sexual orientation, no matter your gender, no matter where you came from, no matter your income, Jesus was about accepting people, forgiving people, loving people.
And that's what the church taught me growing up. And I think should be teaching at this very moment. And I think the Pope Francis was excellent about always lifting us up. His voice always rose above the noise, and every time he spoke, it made me think. And I think it made others think.
And it was always something that made you want to be better, made. You want to step into your higher self. And I think we need that in our world now more than ever.
BURNETT: You know, sitting here today as he spoke and gave his -- his blessing and then his address to the crowd, he seemed so thoughtful and gracious. It sort of -- you just felt it. And I wanted to play just one thing that he said in that address for you, Maria.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE LEO XIV: We have to seek together to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges and dialogue, always ready to accept, like this great piazza with its arms. We have to show our charity, presence and be in dialogue with love.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: He talks about building bridges. He talks about dialogue. What? What do you hear?
SHRIVER: I hear just that. I hear that we have to reach across the aisle, that we have to reach out to others. He talked about -- you know, Pope Francis talked about the church as a field hospital. He talks about it as a missionary, right?
That we all have a mission, that we can all reach out. We have more in common than we have that divides us. But we need to reach out. We need to speak with love. We need to recognize that love is what will bring us together.
And I think it's very important what he said. I think the world needs that kind of voice. When we hear other voices telling us it's all about division, it's about polarization. It's about that we don't have anything in common. I welcome this voice. I think the world needs it.
BURNETT: Maria Shriver, thank you so much.
SHRIVER: Thank you, Erin. Nice to be with you.
BURNETT: And OUTFRONT next, she recently had dinner with the man who is now tonight Pope Leo. Elise Allen, who is here with me when that white smoke billowed out of the chimney for this day in history, is OUTFRONT next with that story.
Plus, our David Culver witnessing today's historic moment with several young Americans who are studying to be priests.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID CULVER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: How do you process it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just -- I mean, smile and pray. Smile and pray.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:34:00]
BURNETT: Breaking news, we're continuing our live coverage from the Vatican in Rome tonight following the historic election of Pope Leo XIV. One close friend of the new pope telling us that his papacy will prioritize -- prioritize climate change and serving the poor and in that sense would be much like that of Pope Francis.
OUTFRONT now, Father Mark Francis, he first met Pope Leo the 14th, 48 years ago, when you two were classmates together at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Elise Allen, as well as with me, our Vatican analyst. We were -- we
were together today during -- during that historic moment. And Elise just had dinner with Pope Leo XIV when he was cardinal Prevost.
So she's going to tell us this story.
I want to begin, though, with you, Father Francis, because you knew Pope Leo XIV back when you were both so young that you can get the measure of someone's character without yet knowing what they will become. You were studying for your masters in divinity.
What was your first impression of him?
FATHER MARK FRANCIS, ATTENDED CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL UNION WITH POPE LEO XIV: No, I've -- Pope Leo, I can't get around talking about -- calling him Pope Leo because he's still Bob in my mind.
[19:35:05]
But Pope Leo was someone who was very, very focused, very serious, but not -- not overly serious. He was a person who was extremely thoughtful and really desirous of making a change in the world.
BURNETT: When you say desirous of making a change in the world, the name that he chose as pope, Pope Leo XIV, hearkening back, it appears to Pope Leo the 13th, known as a social justice fighter, champion of workers' rights, what do you see in his selection of the name Leo?
FRANCIS: Well, you know, I think in evoking that name when he's evoking is the whole social doctrine of the church, social teaching of the church, that, you know, that every human being is made in the image and likeness of god, and that everyone, everyone has a place on this earth and should be welcomed as brothers and sisters by one another.
And so, his experience in Latin America also, I'm sure, has -- has tempered a lot of the kind of his worldview and has enabled him to see, all kinds of different perspectives that perhaps we in the United States don't see as often.
BURNETT: Yeah. And, you know, I should mention that the president of Peru, you know, speaking of the joy they feel in Peru that Cardinal Prevost, now Pope Leo, had become a dual citizen in 2015. Such was his commitment to the country and the people of Peru.
Elise, you have met the new pope a couple of times, and you actually had him over -- just to think about this. He just had him over for dinner. Dinner party with your husband when he was Cardinal Prevost, I guess. I suppose, obviously, here in Rome.
So, you've shared some pictures. These are pictures of you and him. Some of your colleagues at dinner during one of those meetings.
So, what is he like in an intimate setting like that? A personal setting?
ELISE ALLEN, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: You know, I have to say one. He's very down to earth. That's the thing that really struck me.
When we had him over, the pope, Pope Francis, you know, at the time, had this big meeting, the synod of bishops in Rome, like cardinals were meeting all day. You know, cardinals, bishops from all over the world were meeting all day for hours on end.
And he came over and, you know, we were just impressed that he wanted to make time for us, you know, in that setting, giving, you know, his demanding schedule. So he's very down to earth, very kind, has a good sense of humor, very relaxed. He's a very sweet guy.
But, you know, he doesn't take himself too seriously, but he does take his job seriously. He does take his work seriously. And he's a very good listener, you know, and he's very present with the people that he's with.
BURNETT: And I keep hearing this about being a listener, about being present. I mean, these -- these -- these words keep coming back in so many aspects of his life.
I mean, Father, when you think about -- over these years that you've known him, what are the things about him that stand out the most to you, of you're saying these words we've been hearing tonight, you know, like reliable, good listener.
What would you say describes him?
FRANCIS: All those words very much apply. He is not a showboat. He is -- he is -- he doesn't want to be the center of attention, necessarily, all the time. He -- because he's a good listener and he wants to engage in conversation. When I knew him also in Rome, as a superior, as friar general, when I was superior general of my community. And we were together for 13 years in Rome and going to different meetings.
And his participation in meetings is always one of he'd listen and then he'd offer judicious remarks. But he didn't talk to hear himself talk, which I think is really important.
BURNETT: Well, it's -- it is. And to hear the words judicious you know, such an incredible compliment in this era.
So, Elise, I want to play what happened today because we were sitting together. We were sitting -- we weren't sure whether there was going to be, you know, smoke or no smoke. And then it happened. Let me just play it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I think we see it. Sorry.
BASH: There we go. It certainly looks like smoke and white smoke.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is it white?
BASH: It is. It -- we're going to -- we're going to watch it. I'm going to go to Erin.
And, Erin, as I toss to you -- obviously, the crowd there thinks that that is the white smoke. But I know we're going to wait for the bells.
BURNETT: It -- it looks as if it is, Dana. It is clearly white. And we have seen the black smoke which was clearly black.
So I think we can say this is white smoke. And they have selected a pope. There --
LAMB: To me, and that means the cardinals have chosen a pope.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: And we're sitting there. I think I could hear you gasp, right. And remember that moment when, when we realized that indeed, they had a pope.
[19:40:00]
What does that moment mean for you?
ALLEN: Well, it means a lot. Obviously, any election of a pope is historic moment, you know? And, you know, I think just living in the shock of that and remembering the shock of that moment, we thought that the moment had passed, that they had not selected a pope on that ballot, you know. So to get the white smoke was very surprising.
And just to be here, you know, I was not quite in Rome yet when Pope Francis was elected. So, this is actually my first conclave that I'm living through, you know, in the first Pahalgam I've seen.
So as a professional and personally, you know, it was quite exciting.
BURNETT: Yes. And the Habemus Papam -- the way it was said -- you could hear the -- I felt there was a pride and a yes, I am saying it.
All right. Elise, thank you so much. Father, thanks very much to you.
And next, our David Culver as that announcement happened, was with a group of young Americans who have had a front row to history because they are studying to become priests.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming to love Pope Francis, being able to mourn his loss. And then now welcome in an American pope. It's incredible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Plus, Trump claiming he's made a, quote, full and comprehensive trade deal with the United Kingdom. But of course, what truly matters is the details. And Einstein and Ives have something to say. They're coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [19:45:26]
BURNETT: Tonight, President Trump congratulating newly elected Pope Leo XIV.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What greater honor could there be than we were a little bit surprised. Very happy. It's just a great, absolutely great honor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: The new pope's predecessor, Pope Francis, of course, was a vocal critic of President Trump, especially on the topic of immigration.
So, will that be the case for Pope Leo, too, for whom this has been a major issue?
David Culver, who was in the crowd when the pope was announced, has covered immigration issues extensively.
And, David, this is going to be a crucial issue to watch. It is an issue that appears to be very near and dear to Pope Leo, and what he cares about the most.
CULVER: Well, remember the two languages we heard from him up there were Italian and then Spanish, and mentioning Peru in particular.
One thing that stood out to me in that moment also was there was a young woman who was nearby, and she seemed disappointed amidst all the excitement and joy. And she said, oh, an American. Oh, but he's focused on Latin America. And another woman came by and he goes, yes, a Latino.
So, there is that sense that this is perhaps an American pope, but you're also talking a pope of the Americas.
BURNETT: Americas, yes.
CULVER: Exactly. And that's -- that's resonating from the folks that were connecting with down there, but also down there where some of those who are thinking about the next generation of those who are going to be pastoral leaders within the church.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CULVER (voice-over): The smoke signaled and the crowd responded.
Oh. Oh, my gosh.
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: Hours earlier, before the smoke, before the crowd, before the cheers, we were across town at the Pontifical North American College.
RVE. ANTHONY LIGATO, ASSISTANT VICE RECTOR AT A SEMINARY COLLEGE: So, Santa Marta is right over there.
CULVER: Oh, wow.
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? That the spirit knows has 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. Theres pictures of me when I'm seven 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 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.
ROBINSON: Wow. Yeah, yeah. 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 -- 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: Yeah, oh, my goodness.
CULVER: 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 seven-year-old altar server.
ROBINSON: Yeah, yeah.
CULVER: Did you imagine this moment ever?
ROBINSON: Never. No, I could not have imagined it. I mean, goodness, yeah, it's the biggest surprise. Yeah. Being here for this moment, especially.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CULVER: He did skip class, though. And that was baptismal class where they had baby dolls that they were supposed to practice doing a baptism. But he says they'll make up for that later on. And he's also excited about recruitment going down.
[19:50;00]
He said, this is going to be incredible.
BURNETT: Which -- which has been such an issue in the U.S., in the U.S. Catholic Church.
That's incredible. What an endearing young man.
CULVER: Fun to be with him.
BURNETT: Yes, yes.
All right. David Culver, thank you.
And next, team Trump claiming they're about to roll out many trade deals over the coming weeks. Have we heard that before? Well, Einstein and Ives are next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BURNETT: Breaking news, top GOP donor Ken Griffin slamming Trump's tariff war. One of the biggest investors in the United States, telling "Politico", quote, tariffs opened the doors to crony capitalism. It comes on the day that Trump announces his first deal since waging his trade war, saying on social media, quote, the agreement with the United Kingdom is a full and comprehensive one.
The president then, though, followed up with this comment later in the day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: The final details are being written up in the coming weeks. We'll have it all very conclusive. But the actual deal is a very conclusive one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Comprehensive, conclusive, or the final details are also being written up.
Well, let's listen to what the U.K. had to say about it.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer put it this way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We can finish out some of the details, but there's a fantastic platform here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: So the details being hammered out and it's a platform.
So, it is though. For those keeping score, it is the first platform that has been announced of any deal. With just two months to go before Trump's pause on tariffs runs out. Although the 10 percent is in place, it's all very clear what is and isn't in place, and there's sure no pause on China.
It's a deal with a country when it comes to the U.K., that accounts for about 3 percent of U.S. trade.
Dan Ives and Peter Tuchman are OUTFRONT.
So, Dan, let's just start with this deal. Put aside that it's a 3 percent of trade deal, but let's just start with this one -- comprehensive deal without details, but it's a platform.
[19:55:05]
Is it enough?
DAN IVES, GLOBAL HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, WEDBUSH SECURITIES: It's a framework. I mean I kind of view it, it's a baby step because the reality is that it's all about India. It's about China and it's about Vietnam and others.
And when you look at this, it's a framework deal with very little details. Market obviously a little optimistic and talk more -- we'll talk about that. But it's, sort of, where's the beef, right? And it's like what the details are going to be key.
That's why it all goes back into this weekend with Bessent in Switzerland. I think it's lack of details and U.K., it's a baby step. I view more as a yawner than something that I'd get too excited about.
BURNETT: And, Peter, it comes as we hear Ken Griffin coming out and speaking, and we know that he has now been become much more outspoken on this and at great risk, you know, risk to himself. But he has said that tariffs open the door to crony capitalism. And, you know, whether he's talking specifically about Musk or others, he didn't need to actually say. He just -- the words crony capitalism themselves carry so much weight.
PETER TUCHMAN, TRADER AT THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE: Are we seeing? Oh, I thought we were going to go to see him. So, first of all, Erin, you know, the market responded really favorably to what this refer to be a U.K. deal. You know, the fact that its 3 percent is really disappointing in that way.
But as we've seen as it happened the other night, when Wall Street's just waiting, waiting, waiting for something to happen that they can sink their teeth into. And so, any deal was significant. But it's important to know the market rallied quite, quite aggressively on that news.
But you know what? In the middle of the day at 11:00, Mr. Trump went on social media and said, you better go out and buy stocks. That was his word to the American people, and that I won't even go into the fact how strange that may be for the president to be telling people what to do in the stock market.
At the same time, the market rallied quite aggressively on that little blip. And as we stayed in bullish mode all afternoon, by the end of the day, we ended up getting a really quite a large sell program, almost $2.5 billion came in at the end of the day. We had been coming into the close up as much as 75 handles on the S&P.
We closed down. We closed -- we sold off 45 points in the last three minutes of trading. What does that mean to me is that means that there's no trust in this, okay? That they were not going to hold this trade overnight, that they were going to close it out by the end of the day, because there's still no trust in the whole thing.
IVES: Yeah. And, Erin, I would say to Tuchman's point, I think the reality is what Ken Griffin talked about as well. It opens up pandora's box. Thats the problem here.
And that's what Griffin's talking about. And that's the worry of the street. What's the details?
BURNETT: Right. What are the details? And the crony capitalism? I mean, Peter, you know, when you look at it, Trump was talking about
how great the tariffs were for Rolls-Royce. You know, a commonly driven car. Yeah, right. You get it?
Okay. He said we took it from 25 to 10 on Rolls-Royce because Rolls- Royce is not going to be built here. I wouldn't even ask them to do that. You know, it's a very special car and it's a very limited number two.
So, taking the tariffs on Rolls-Royce from 25 to 10, even though they're not made here because he says it's a special car. I wouldn't ask them to do that.
Just a note, the cheapest Rolls-Royce starts at about $358,000. So that cut from 25 to 10 in terms of the tariff is not helping very many people.
TUCHMAN: You know what? Thats sort of a petty comment at best. Mr. Trump is supposed to be a president of the people, right? You know, it's, like, are we going to bring up caviar and Rolls-Royces? Is that where were going with this story, when we know that there are 50 percent -- we heard about the port in L.A. is working at 50 percent capacity, and that the truck stops are 40 percent empty. And that Mr. Ives said that the boats are backing up in China. That's the back to school thing. Thats the Barbies for Christmas. That's basic America, you know?
And it goes back -- you know, I noticed that on Fox News earlier, today, they were talking about that Wall Street got it wrong, right? They said we need to understand that we need to work on Trump time.
I brought a hourglass in today right as our prop for the day to notice that if we're going to have Trump time, right, that's what Trump time is going to represent.
IVES: Yeah, let's see it. Let's see that hourglass.
TUCHMAN: I'm going to hold it up, and we're going to leave it here. Each day Dan and I are going to come on, and we're going to see when we get details.
IVES: Because the reality is -- is that --
BURNETT: It is a beautiful hourglass.
IVES: It is a beautiful hourglass. And actually it's probably going to be a lot more expensive after the tariffs.
TUCHMAN: It may be made in China.
IVES: It speaks to --
TUCHMAN: It took a while to get here.
IVES: Exactly.
But I think -- and, Tuchman, I think -- but, Erin, it speaks to like we need to see the details on the deals this weekend. That's the key.
BURNETT: All right. Thank you both very much. I'm looking forward to seeing that hourglass.
And thanks so much to all of you for being with us on this historic day. I'll be back tomorrow morning at 5:00 a.m. to cover Pope Leo's first mass.
"AC360" begins now.
