Return to Transcripts main page

Erin Burnett Outfront

Pope Finds New Fame: Major Cities Claim Him As One Of Their Own; Pakistan: India Launches Missiles Targeting Key Military Bases; Media Matters; Jeanine Pirro, Trump's Newest Pick To Serve As Washington, D.C.'s Top Prosecutor. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired May 09, 2025 - 19:00   ET

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

[19:00:33]

ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT now:

Live from Vatican City, where the world is waiting to see what direction Pope Leo XIV is going to take the Catholic Church. New York's Cardinal Timothy Dolan has an idea, and he's my guest tonight here in Rome.

Plus, world leaders in their biggest show of support since the start of the war right now, on their way to Ukraine to ramp up the pressure on Putin.

And is Jeanine Pirro of Fox News fame becoming one of the most powerful prosecutors in the United States?

Let's go OUTFRONT.

And good evening to all on this Friday. Welcome to this special edition of OUTFRONT. I'm Erin Burnett live again from Vatican City here in Rome.

The city now preparing for Pope Leo XIV XIV's official inauguration, a global event. Many major world leaders will be here. Pope Francis inauguration at 200,000 people here in St. Peter's Square. And it is at this event that two of the world's most powerful men, who both happen to be American, could come face to face. President Trump and Pope Leo XIV XIV.

The big question tonight, will Pope Leo XIV follow in the footsteps of his predecessor and speak out on the world stage against his own country's administration?

Here's what Cardinal Timothy Dolan told me about his fellow American Pope Leo XIV today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARDINAL TIMOTHY DOLAN, ARCHBISHOP OF NEW YORK: I think he'll be very evenhanded in criticism. But criticism there will come, and he won't back away on an abundance of issues.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BURNETT: An abundance of issues, says Cardinal Dolan.

And the pope's own brother, saying this to CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN PREVOST, BROTHER OF POPE LEO XIV XIV: I don't think he's really happy with -- with what's going on in terms of immigration in this country. It's not really human to be treating other humans the way some of them are being treated. And I think that will become an issue he'll talk about.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: It seems clear from talking to anyone who knows Pope Leo XIV, that he is a man who is not afraid to speak truth to power, a man with many lifelong friends who are consistent in what they say about him.

And already, the new pope finding many new fans around the U.S. and the world, many trying to claim him as their own. I mean, some of the front pages out there, "The Chicago Tribune": Chicago's Pope. "The Philadelphia Inquirer", An American Pope, a Villanova alum. And "The Times-Picayune": Pope Leo XIV IX has roots in New Orleans.

And in Peru, where he served for 20 years as a missionary, dual citizenship. The headlines there, Peru in his heart and Leo XIV, el chiclayno.

Well, Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb is here with me now.

And, Christopher, so much attention now on Pope Leo XIV. A pope always matters, but right now, it seems to have an extra import of what leadership is and what he's going to do in a world that is so shaken and unstable.

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. And I think Pope Leo XIV is going to try and be a bridge builder. That's what he was indicating in his early remarks. And from the people I've spoken to about him, he is someone who wants to seek consensus. He's not someone who's going to pick a fight, but he will stand firm when there's an issue of principle.

And he is, I think, going to speak out on things like immigration, on social issues, but he will do so in a way that's not confrontational, but is, in a sense, trying to bring different sides together. He's going to try and be a peacemaker in a world that is so full of conflict and division.

Now, today we heard from some of the U.S. cardinals about what it was like inside the conclave. And this is my report on Pope Leo XIV's first day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAMB (voice-over): Pope Leo XIV, leading his first mass since his election as pope in the Sistine Chapel, speaking to the cardinals who elected him just one day earlier.

POPE LEO XIV, CATHOLIC CHURCH: 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. As we continue as a church, as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the gospel.

LAMB: The 69-year-old American born pope began his homily with a few words in English before switching over to Italian. Leo signaling he'll follow the path of Pope Francis, the man who appointed him bishop of Chiclayo in Peru.

POPE LEO XIV (through translator): These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised, or at best tolerated and pitied.

[19:05:11]

Yet precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed.

LAMB: The American cardinals, talking about one of their own, taking over the leadership of the church.

CARDINAL JOSEPH TOBIN, ARCHBISHOP OF NEWARK: I don't think he's one that likes to pick fights with people. But he is not one to -- to back down if the cause is just. He really is a listener. And then he acts once he's heard.

LAMB: Each new pope has issued the fisherman's ring. So far, we have not seen Leo's ring. But we know Pope Francis was given his during his inauguration mass in 2013, so he may get a glimpse of it Sunday.

As for where he will live, the pope is undecided. It will either be the apostolic palace where many popes have resided, or the Casa Santa Marta where Pope Francis chose to live.

The Vatican releases agenda for the rest of May that includes meeting with the College of Cardinals tomorrow, reciting the Regina Caeli prayer from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday, and meeting with journalists from around the world Monday. On May 18th, he'll be formally installed as pope during a special inaugural public mass held at St. Peter's Square. His first general audience will take place on May 21st, but perhaps what most Catholics around the world are eager to know is what approach will he take when it comes to matters of church reform?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BURNETT: So, you know, Pope Leo XIV, you mentioned all the things that will happen here, the pomp and circumstance of the week. You mentioned that he will meet with reporters. Pope Francis was very savvy when it came to the media, but also removed. He chose his moments.

So, Pope Leo XIV as an American, what do you think his relationship with the media will be?

LAMB: Well, this is going to be a really fascinating question because Pope Francis, as you said, was quite open to the media. He gave more interviews than any other pope. Will Pope Leo XIV sit down for interviews? I think that's going to be a really interesting question.

I don't think he has ever experienced the kind of media attention that's on him now before being pope, he was a cardinal in Rome, relatively low profile. He's now got a huge profile. He's one of the most famous people in the world.

So how is he going to deal with the media? I think that's a big question. We'll get a sense of it. I think, when he meets journalists on Monday.

BURNETT: Yes, indeed, we will. I know you'll be there.

All right. Christopher Lamb.

I spoke today with one of the most senior and well-known American cardinals who told me what it was like in that secretive room, the Sistine Chapel, the conclave. And when he started to realize that history was going to be made.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BURNETT: Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, it is a pleasure to be with you.

DOLAN: Good to be back with you, Erin. Thanks for the invite.

BURNETT: So here we are. Have you -- have you come upon the right word for the feeling of what has happened?

DOLAN: Exhausting. Now, that's a good sense, because you're usually exhausted after something that was that was just enthusiastic, that was enjoyable, that was memorable. And but I mean, exhausting too, because as you can imagine, we're kind of tired. We've been at it pretty full time for the last two and a half weeks.

There -- what should I say? Look, I hate to tell you, but you know it anyway because you have to report it. A lot of times we all we get is bleak, somber news about the church. Right? Can't deny that, sin abounds. Grace abounds so more fully as St. Paul and the bible tells us.

And this is a radiant occasion of that grace, that explosion of hope and promise and unity. They, I heard, reported today that this -- that yesterday the people throughout the world viewing the white smoke and the introduction of the new Holy Father surpassed that of the World Cup. Okay?

The world was united now, and you could feel that. You could feel that. And today I didn't have my phone until last night when we -- when we left the lockdown and the all the emails and the telephone calls that I got from people all over the place, just expressing a solidarity and a sense of exhilaration and the best sense of the word that most of the time, exhilaration is transient.

Let's hope this unity, promise and hope endures.

BURNETT: So, you know, we were hearing, okay, it's going to be Parolin. It's going to be Tagle. Prevost, seen as possible, but a long shot, sort of one of those things we'd cover in American media, because we'll talk about a possibility of an American pope, but people didn't take it seriously.

DOLAN: Sure.

BURNETT: At what point did you realize this was going to happen?

DOLAN: Now, look, I'm not surprised to hear you say that because I felt the same. You know, I had heard about Robert Francis Prevost. I knew of him, but I thought one of the peripheral guys. Now, I've been around long enough to know that the Italian axiom, he who goes in pope comes out of cardinal is accurate.

So, you don't -- you're not just thinking of the of the ones who reported in the morning line. So, I was open to anybody, but I didn't kind of really zero in on them until you asked me when. Yeah, when I showed up at the congregation meetings, the Wednesday morning after the funeral of the pope. This is when I arrived from New York, went to the congregation meetings, and immediately people began to ask me. (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

BURNETT: So, they were asking you about him.

DOLAN: I said, I'm sorry, I wish I could help. They kind of thought, naturally, because he had been born in the United States, we would be familiar with him.

All I could say is, I sure know of them. And what I know is pretty stellar. But I don't know him. That continued, Erin. That continued until after 2 or 3 days. I said, Dolan, you better get to know this guy.

And we did. I went up to a lot of guys. A lot of guys came up to me just wanting to know you better and to and to pick your brain. So, I got to know him. By the time I went in, I felt I did know him. So --

BURNETT: It was swift.

DOLAN: Well --

BURNETT: But it wasn't immediate. I mean, was it sort of an overwhelming for him?

DOLAN: You -- look, you're -- you're a seasoned journalist. Your common sense would tell you that it was somewhat the same as last time. Remember in 2013, I was there, exact time frame. We went in the same time, we left the same time.

That was somewhat novel, although in recent years -- so since really the election of John Paul I in 1978, conclaves have been rather expeditious, usually two, maybe three days. So, people kind of expect that.

So, could you read into that? There must have been -- could someone read into that? There must have been someone of a unity and an agreement from when they went in. There must not have been any sudden dramatic changes. If you want to read that into it, I ain't going to correct you.

BURNETT: You're going to correct. All right. Okay. All right. You know, point taken.

But who will he be? You know, we are -- we are hearing you and the other U.S. cardinals and we hear that he is he is a listener. He is not someone who picks fights, but he is not someone who backs down.

And we know that he even when he addressed the crowd, right. He talked about building bridges. He talked about a missionary church. He -- he has in recent -- there's a social media account that posted under his name as I don't know if you're aware of it, recently has posted several posts critical of J.D. Vance's views on immigration.

DOLAN: Who has --

BURNETT: An account, a social media account that posts under Prevost name.

DOLAN: Uh-huh.

BURNETT: And that account, actually, in 2015 reposted an op-ed that you wrote, Cardinal Dolan, you wrote this op-ed that the headline was "Why Donald Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic". One of the lines in your op-ed was, I take seriously the bibles teaching that we are to welcome the stranger, one of the most frequently mentioned moral imperatives in both the Old and New Testament.

Should he -- will he continue to stand up on this issue?

DOLAN: Sure, he will. Now, that won't be the only one. Sure, he will. And not just with American representatives, but all over the country.

One of the greatest challenges is right here in Italy. As you probably know, he's the bishop of Rome, there's kind of a special neighborly relationship with the with the bishops and the government of Italy, since they're the host government, even though the Holy See is independent. They don't have such a sterling reputation either. Remember, Pope Francis took them in.

BURNETT: Yeah.

DOLAN: So, I think he'll be very even-handed in criticism, but criticism there will come and he won't back away on an abundance of issues.

BURNETT: One more question. The church and the United States -- you know, you talk about the sin, the frustration. More young people have been going to mass.

DOLAN: That's all I hear. Is that good news?

BURNETT: Well, is this a transformative moment, do you think? How does this is this going to be more than just a moment of exhilaration and become something where there is a true change in the Catholic Church in the United States with more, more priests, more people coming to church, more baptisms?

DOLAN: Let's hope so, speriamo as the Italians say. Let's hope so.

I think it could be. First of all, I mean, even whoever was elected pope, we know that this is always a moment for like Catholics that maybe have drifted away to say, you know what? I belong to that family, too. I should begin to take it a little more seriously.

Will it be magnified now because we have a pope from the United States? I wouldn't doubt it. You know what's going to dawn on people? We've grown up.

The rest of the world looks to the Catholic Church in the United States, bambino. We're babies. We haven't been around that long. Our first bishop was 1789. Okay? When you're compared to this church. So they're going to say, hey, we're kind of mature adults. Now, let's begin to take this seriously, I hope.

BURNETT: And beyond being a cardinal, is this a moment for you as an American?

DOLAN: Sure, it is. Just what I said. Weve kind of arrived.

[19:15:00]

I -- I feel what a probably the Polish people felt in '78 when Karol Wojtyla, the archbishop of Krakow, walked out on the balcony. I feel that.

Now, that's not to -- that's not to negate what was said earlier. We really kind of didn't think of him as we knew he was born in the United States. He's very grateful for -- for the country.

But he's not an American citizen. And he spent the great majority of his life outside the United States. So, we didn't kind of number him among the American cardinals.

BURNETT: He's a dual citizen.

DOLAN: I think the fact of the matter is he was born in the United States. And are we ever proud of him?

BURNETT: All right. Well, Cardinal Dolan, thank you very much. I appreciate your time.

DOLAN: Thank you, Erin. Keep in touch.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BURNETT: And OUTFRONT next, our David Culver is on the ground with us here in Rome, and he's about to take all of us to some of Pope Leo XIVs favorite spots here in Italy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID CULVER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So this is where he lived those years as head of the Augustinian Order worldwide, just so happens to be across the street from the Vatican.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Plus, breaking news, another dangerous escalation happening right now, as we understand, between two nuclear powers. Pakistan just reporting India has fired missiles tonight at military bases, including one near the capital. We're on the ground here. This is a breaking development.

And we take a closer look this hour to Jeanine Pirro, Trump's newest pick to serve as Washington, D.C.'s top prosecutor. How she used her Fox television news show to defend Trump at every turn.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEANINE PIRRO, FORMER FOX NEWS HOST: You got a president who's swinging for the fences. You got a president who's punching.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:21:00]

BURNETT: Tonight, Pope Leo XIV subtle yet powerful message today, the new pontiff choosing to wear black shoes to his first mass as pope here at the Sistine Chapel, opting for simplicity over what many popes traditionally wear, which is red shoes. It's just one of the many ways the Pope Leo XIV is already distinguishing himself, letting go of his old life in Rome and beginning a new one as a powerful world leader.

David Culver is with me now.

And, David, you know, the black shoes choice as we saw in the Sistine Chapel, a significant one.

DAVID CULVER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right.

BURNETT: And -- and, you know, so you've gone back to say, well, what sort of life did he live to see what sort of life he may choose to live now? It was a simple life in Rome, and it was an anonymous life which it no longer will be.

CULVER: Low key for sure. You know, retracing some of his footsteps here and talk to some of the folks who know him. I think what was interesting is I was starting to think about Jorge Bergoglio before he became Pope Francis. And so, there's all these photos of him on the subway and out and about.

It seems Pope Leo XIV was a -- is a little bit more low key when he was here. But you also think about Jorge Bergoglio and having to uproot his life from Argentina. He had a return ticket when he came here. Obviously, he never went back and never used it, but Pope Leo XIV was able to go just a few feet over and go back to his apartment to get a few things, last night, after he became pope.

Still, though, you begin to realize just how this city really sees him as one of their own as well.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CULVER (voice-over): Some take pride that he's from the U.S., others that he's Peruvian. But here in Rome, where Pope Leo XIV spent key chapters of his life pre-papacy, the folks we meet say he's been one of us for years.

It was in the early '80s that Robert Prevost first came here to Rome, studying as a young seminarian right here at the Angelicum.

The Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, it's here. He earned his doctorate in canon law with a thesis on leadership in the Augustinian order. He was also ordained a priest here in 1982. Not long after, he left Italy for Peru, where he spent a decade as a local pastor, seminary director and teacher.

But Rome came calling again. In 2001, Prevost returned to lead the entire Augustinian Order as friar general. The Eternal City became his home base for another decade plus.

So, this is where he lived those years as head of the Augustinian Order worldwide, just so happens to be across the street from the Vatican.

And you knew him or know him personally?

FATHER VIRGILIO PACIONI, PROFESSOR EMERITUS, PATRISTIC INSTITUTE AUGUSTINIANUM: I know him personally. Yeah, yeah.

CULVER: Father Virgilio Pacino, a fellow Augustinian, says those years expanded his global experience and understanding across Europe, the Americas --

PACIONI: At the same time, the Asia, because as a general used to go sometimes to India to visit our communities, to. Australia, Korea, to Japan and so on.

CULVER: Inside the spiritual home of the Augustinians in Rome, the Basilica of Saint Augustine, Father Virgilio says he knew he was destined for the papacy.

PACIONI: It was not a surprise for me because I was quite sure about his election.

CULVER: You were sure?

PACIONI: I must admit, I talked to many people.

CULVER: He says they met decades back and had lunch just a couple of months ago.

PACIONI: He's a very kind person, very friendly, very discreet.

CULVER: And should Leo share Francis's devotion for this basilica, especially Saint Monica, Saint Augustine's mother, Father Virgilio says you might find him at this side altar where he says several times Pope Francis would unexpectedly show up.

PACIONI: Came out from the sacristy. And I saw him, and I called the order friars, there is the pope in the church. And he was praying. Oh, yeah.

CULVER: And maybe Pope Leo XIV will come here to pray, too.

PACIONI: Maybe.

(LAUGHTER)

CULVER: And if he does, and is nostalgic for a meal on the way back to the Vatican, we hear you might find him here.

This apparently one of his favorite restaurants, pizzeria.

[19:25:02]

Hours after the conclave ended, the restaurant staff reportedly threw a big party for his win, whether he be Peruvian or from the U.S. or Augustinian, even, many in this iconic and ancient city just see Pope Leo as a longtime resident, now neighbor, and those like Father Virgilio hope he'll still stop by, if only to tell him.

PACIONI: Roberto, all the best. Friendly.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BURNETT: Okay, I think he might be the first person who's actually come out and said he wasn't surprised.

CULVER: I know.

BURNETT: Right?

CULVER: He was so confident from the start.

BURNETT: Yes. So. And he's known him. So what else did he say about his personality? His demeanor.

CULVER: So, you heard humble kind. He kept going back to discreet though, and it almost described him as a tough read as he was saying that you'll bring something that's heavy to him. You're not quite sure where he sits with it, doesn't give it away right away, but you know that he's taking it in and that he's listening.

BURNETT: Yes. And I have to say, to say someone is discreet is the ultimate compliment.

CULVER: It is.

BURNETT: Yeah. It really is.

All right, David culver, thank you very much. It's been wonderful to be in Rome with you.

And next, Jim Priestly, a longtime friend of Pope Leo XIV. They went to high school together in Illinois, living in the same dorm, and attended Villanova University together. So, you really know him, Jim, and I have been amazed at how -- I don't know how to say this -- how easy it is to find his friends, you know, so he had a lot of good friends throughout his life, which says something in and of itself.

So, Jim, you though, knew him probably better than almost anyone in these important years in someone's life. You shared some photos with us from your high school yearbook, where we see the two of you together, and we have this photo from Villanova's 1977 yearbook.

So what was he like in high school and college?

JIM PRIESTLEY, ATTENDED HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE WITH POPE LEO XIV: Well, he was a very nice guy. He was a very, very bright guy. He -- it didn't -- he had no trouble with in school at all. He was the type of guy who could ace any test. And he didn't really seem to study that much. He just picked it up very quickly.

But he was also a very religious, devout guy, and he -- he was not a troublemaker. He obeyed all the rules. He wasn't one of the people that needed to be corrected. He was a very, very good student and very devout young man.

By the way, we went to high school in Michigan, Holland, Michigan, not -- not Illinois. We were from Illinois, but we went to school in Michigan.

BURNETT: All right. Well, thank you for clarifying that.

Can I just play for you, Jim, because you're talking about and I think its important most people they might blanch when if thinking, wow, what would the world be if someone asked me what my friends, what I was like in high school? But it sounds so consistent. What he was then with what we are hearing he is now.

So, when we -- when you first heard his name, Robert Francis Prevost, announced here at the Vatican when they said Roberto, as the new pope. Let me just play it again. I'll never forget that moment. Let me play it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOMINIQUE MAMBERTI, CARDINAL PROTODEACON: Lord Robert Francis, cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, Prevost.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: The roar was such that it may have been hard for some to hear the actual name. You hear Robert Francis, right? His baptismal name. And then -- and then Prevosto, a name that you have known for decades. And you hear it, and then you hear the roar.

When you were -- were watching, what did you think? Could you believe what you were hearing?

PRIESTLEY: Well, actually, I screamed and my wife got kind of angry at me for screaming. She didn't -- she didn't care for that too much. She thought I had a heart attack or something.

So, yeah, I couldn't believe it. It was -- it was -- it was amazing. I got it on the Roberto Francisco. Now, we always call them Prevost. You know, in Chicago. His name is Prevost. I guess in Italy, it's Prevosto. But, you know, we're Chicagoans, so it's Prevost.

BURNETT: That might be the answer of the day in all respects, Jim. So, you saw the now pope last summer because he came back to home. And I know you attended a mass, and in this mass, he's -- he gave a shout out to friends that were there. And again, so many of his friends, friends from grade and high school were there at the mass. And we found the tape. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT FRANCIS PREVOST, FORMER CARDINAL BISHOP OF ALBANO: I had a bet with my brother that there would be about 30 people. So I guess I'm going to have to pay up again.

[19:30:02]

There's people here from my grade school class. My high school class from Holland, Michigan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: And after that, I understand that he joined you and other friends at a pizza shop. And here, you know, a photo. He's in the middle. You're on the far right. And then you told us that you spoke to him for about a half an hour in the parking lot, a half an hour in the parking lot.

I mean, just to think about that conversation, when you look back on it now -- I mean, how much of it do you remember? What stands out to you now from -- from that long conversation it sounds like?

PRIESTLEY: Well, I -- I feel kind of guilty about it now because I was probably doing most of the talking you know, telling him about my wife and my children and things like that. And he was very nice to me and very friendly. And he was letting me talk and then I finally realized, like, you know, this guy's a cardinal. I should probably let him go on his way.

So I did express to him that I was kind of felt sorry for him because he had such a high stress job. You know, at the age of 68. But he's the kind of guy, I guess you can handle that stress. And now. Now he's the pope, so he's got even more stress. But I think he's -- I think he can handle it. He's got a lot of got a

lot of strength.

BURNETT: All right. Well, Jim, thank you very much. I so appreciated this conversation. Thank you.

PRIESTLEY: Thank you, Erin.

BURNETT: And next we do have breaking news. Moments ago, Pakistan accusing India of targeting key military bases. We have a video just coming in of what might have been attacks here in just these past few minutes, including near the capital, an alarming development as tension between the two countries, both nuclear armed, is coming to a head. We're going to go to the ground next.

And also breaking this hour, world leaders on their way to Kyiv as I speak in one of the biggest shows of support since the war started. So, what does it mean for Putin?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:36:55]

BURNETT: Breaking news now. We have new video just into OUTFRONT of what Pakistan says is a major missile attack by India on key military bases, the two countries on the brink of war. Tonight, Pakistan's military spokesperson saying that India launched several missiles, including one close to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, where more than a million people live.

Now, we cannot independently verify Pakistan's claim, but all of this would be a clear escalation. We're seeking comment from Indias military as I speak.

Nic Robertson, though, is there OUTFRONT, live from the capital of Pakistan.

And, Nic, you know, were hearing one of those missiles may have hit a military base near where you are. What more can you tell us about the attack?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah, our team here are getting calls and messages from friends in the capital here saying that they heard these massive explosions across the city coming from the direction of the northern air base, that is the airbase outside the capital here that dignitaries fly in and out of.

And just to give you a sense of that, the minister of state for foreign affairs of Saudi Arabia, Adel al-Jubeir, flew in there today and out of there late this evening or late, late last night, shortly before these attacks, he was on a diplomatic mission. He had just come from India, from meeting diplomatic counterparts there. He had diplomatic meetings here in in Pakistan.

We heard from Pakistani officials yesterday saying that they were sort of giving a diplomatic pause to see if it would work with the Saudi deputy foreign minister flying out of that airbase. And that airbase, seemingly now attacked by India.

The other air base is significant air bases for the for Pakistan, the air base in the air base in Murid. These are also pretty close to the capital in the heartlands of Pakistan, typically important military areas.

The army spokesman saying that the majority of the incoming missiles were intercepted. Significant. I think that were seeing an upgrade. It's not -- it's not sort of fighter jets firing missiles. Now, these are -- these are missiles that are firing into the country.

And the kicker out of this, if you will, the director general of the ISPR, that is the military's main spokesman here said, quote, unquote, wait for our response now.

BURNETT: All right. Well, Nic, thank you very much. And as you, you know, hear more about what's happening at this moment, that attack that might have been near where you are, we'll -- we'll of course, go back to you. Thank you very much.

Nic is in Islamabad tonight.

And also breaking right now a massive show of support from world leaders for Ukraine at obviously, what is such a crucial moment. In fact, this could be one of the biggest shows of support since the start of the war. The leaders of France, Germany, Poland and the U.K., all we understand are heading to Kyiv to meet with President Zelenskyy hours from now.

They want to step up pressure on Putin. They want to force him to accept a 30-day ceasefire. So far, Putin has yet to agree to any ceasefire without preconditions, but he has been strengthening his alliance with one of his closest allies, Chinese President Xi Jinping.

[19:40:06]

And Fred Pleitgen is OUTFRONT tonight for us in Moscow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): As Russia puts on a massive parade to mark 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany, Russian Leader Vladimir Putin and his guest of honor, China's Xi Jinping, closer than ever, side by side, wearing patriotic Russian ribbons.

As Putin vows Russia will win in Ukraine as well.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Our whole country, society and people support the participants of the special military operation. We are proud of their courage, determination and power of spirit that has always only brought us victory.

PLEITGEN: And the Russians flashing the top weapons in their arsenal, from jet fighters to drones heavily used in the battles in Ukraine to intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying some of the most deadly nuclear warheads.

While this parade is there to commemorate 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, it's also a show of force by the Kremlin saying that its forces are inching closer to victory in Ukraine.

Moscow, buoyed by recent battlefield successes, all but completely ousting Ukrainian troops from Russia's Kursk region with a lot of help from North Korean soldiers.

Putin, showing his gratitude, embracing a senior member of Kim Jong Un's general staff.

PUTIN: Congratulations and all the best wishes to all your warriors.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're putting a lot of pressure on Russia.

PLEITGEN: While President Trump has once again called for a 30-day ceasefire and threatened more sanctions if its broken, a senior Russian senator making clear to me it's the Kremlin that's calling the shots.

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

KONSTANTIN KOSACHEV, RUSSIAN SENATOR: 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.

PLEITGEN: And Putin and Xi have made clear nobody will get between them. Laying flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier, vowing to stand together, facing down threats from the Trump administration.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BURNETT: OUTFRONT now -- next, Jeanine Pirro, Trump's latest pick for top Washington, D.C. prosecutors. So how much did her unwavering public defense of Trump pay off?

Plus, the president of the National Black Catholic Congress is my guest, someone who has not been afraid to take on Trump. Does he think that the new pope will continue to be just as outspoken?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:47:11]

BURNETT: New tonight. No mention of Jeanine Pirro on her Fox News show after Trump picked her to serve as the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. Pirro is the 23rd Fox employee that Trump has -- whoa -- the 23rd Fox employee that Trump has appointed. That is stunning. That is according to Media Matters, which has been tracking it.

So, what do her public comments tell us about what she might do if she gets the job as one of America's most important top prosecutors?

Paula Reid is OUTFRONT tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TRUMP: She's my friend, and she's your friend, Justice Jeanine.

PAULA REID, CNN CHIEF LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jeanine Pirro is a former Republican district attorney and county judge in Westchester, New York. But it has been nearly two decades since she held any kind of law enforcement position, instead becoming a fixture on Fox News.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Judge Jeanine Pirro. Youve been reading the indictment. How would you characterize it?

JEANINE PIRRO, FORMER FOX NEWS HOST: You know, I am so livid right now. I am furious.

REID: Where she has been a tireless and at times fawning supporter of President Trump.

PIRRO: When you start reading all the tea leaves, he's setting up the game. You got a president who's swinging for the fences. Youve got a president who's punching.

The amazing part of the cabinet meetings is that this cabinet, they really like each other. You could tell. And they say it. They talk to each other all the time if not several times a day. They are totally in sync and now what you got is a loser prosecutor, Jack Smith, who's been slapped down by the United States Supreme Court in his -- in one of his prosecutions. If I were a lawyer, I will give up my law license.

REID: But her loyalty paid off. Not only that her career benefit from her support of Turmp so did her family. During the final days of Trump's first term, she lobbied to make sure he pardoned her ex- husband, who had been convicted in 2000 of conspiracy and tax evasion. Trump agreed and pardoned him as his last act in office.

In announcing her appointment on Truth Social, Trump praised Pirro as a powerful crusader for victims of crime and incredibly well qualified for the position.

But Pirro's name repeatedly came up in Dominion's lawsuit against her employer over false statements about the 2020 election.

PIRRO: The president's lawyers, alleging a company called Dominion, which they say started in Venezuela with Cuban money and with the assistance of Smartmatic software, a back door is capable of flipping votes.

REID: Documents revealed in that case show that her own executive producer said in 2020 that one of her proposed monologues was rife with conspiracy theories and B.S., and is yet another example of why this woman should never be on live television. In another exchange, he called her a reckless maniac.

[19:50:03]

Her persona has even been parodied on Saturday Night Live.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good evening. I'm Judge Jeanine Pirro, and if anyone watching is wearing a hearing aid. Sorry, you're dead now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

REID (on camera): But her new job is no laughing matter. If confirmed, she would oversee the largest U.S. attorneys office in the country and provide Trump with yet another reliable ally inside the Justice Department. Now, as for Ed Martin, who she replaced, well, he too will be working at the Justice Department wearing several hats as the director of the weaponization working group, associate deputy attorney general and pardon attorney, none of which require Senate confirmation, Erin.

BURNETT: All right. Paula, thank you very much.

And next, Pope Leo XIVs brother, speaking about their family's multicultural roots, we found out some new things about Pope Leo XIV today, as I'm sure we will on so many upcoming days.

And the president of the National Black Catholic Congress will be with us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:55:41]

BURNETT: Tonight, Vice President J.D. Vance is the target of criticism from a social media account under the name Robert Prevost. The new pope is saying tonight, the church is so much bigger than politics.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I try not to play the politicization of the pope game. I'm sure he's going to say a lot of things that I love. I'm sure he'll say some things that I disagree with, but I'll continue to -- to pray for him in the church despite it all and through it all. And that will be the way that I handle it.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BURNETT: The account under Prevost name reposted articles and posts critical of Vance and Trump's anti-immigration positions.

OUTFRONT now, Washington, D.C. Auxiliary Bishop Roy Campbell, Jr. He is president of the National Black Catholic Congress.

And Bishop Campbell, I so much appreciate your time.

So, you know, days after Trump was inaugurated for the second time, you expressed solidarity with immigrants. You recommitted to advocating on their behalf. And the account under Prevost name has posted as recently as April 14th. Right. And had posted that that account criticisms of J.D. Vance's views on immigration.

Do you think that. Pope Leo XIV the 14th will be this direct as pope?

AUXILIARY BISHOP ROY E. CAMPBELL, JR., ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHIGTON, D.C.: You know, I do not know Pope Leo personally or that well, but I think he -- he will have direct comments. He has spent so much time in missionary work and working with immigrants around, around the world, in South America, in Peru. And he has an affinity for them, as did his predecessor, Pope Francis. And I think that he will, when necessary, speak out directly concerning what is important for human dignity, for the church and for all of its members, and all of the members of the human race.

BURNETT: Well, as I mentioned, you are the president of the National Black Catholic Congress. And you know what's amazing? We're going to learn so much more about him because he was so anonymous to so many prior to this moment. It's unclear how he identifies racially, but his brother said something today about their family's multicultural roots.

He confirmed bishop that their maternal grandparents came to the United States from Haiti, and that they have creole ancestry, which was new information to -- to many of us.

What does it mean to you?

CAMPBELL: Well, it means that that he sees people as people, regardless of where they're from and that it doesn't matter. What matters is the gifts that each of us bring to the life of each other, as well as to our own lives, and how we help one another.

And so having a mixed ancestry, so to speak, is really beyond his control. But it is -- it is a good identifying mark that he has concern about all people and, I think that's what's really important. And that is -- that's what I think he will pursue as pope.

BURNETT: So you've been very vocal on issues of race. And earlier this year, there was a mass in honor of Black history month, Bishop. And you said in part, the current administration led by Donald Trump, wants to erase diversity, equity and inclusion from the American conscience. And then you referred to some of the acts that the president had taken.

You know, and, you know, I guess in the context of the world that we are living in, the pope is going to be one of the most important world leaders, right? Politics is part of that, no matter how important religion may be. Do you think the pope should speak out like you have?

CAMPBELL: I really can't speak for him. I don't think that he's going to -- whether it's United States or other countries, directly speak against a person, but he'll let it be known. And if it's necessary to make a point, I don't think he has -- the shyness not to -- to say what he what he thinks.

Quite honestly, what I -- what I said was, was in direct response to the elimination of diversity, was, was in direct response to the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion. And, you know, that's not what the Bible that that many of us are called, our knowledge of God, his prophecies and fulfillment has to say, it is exact opposite of what -- what our Lord has called us to do. He called us to embrace diversity, to embrace equity and truth, and to embrace inclusion of everyone into the life of the church and to each other's life and into the life of God himself.

BURNETT: Bishop, thank you so very much for your time.

And thanks to all of you for being with us.

Anderson starts now.