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Interview With Ray Flynn

Aired October 16, 2003 - 14:50   ET

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

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


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're joined now by Ray Flynn. He's a former Boston Mayor and served as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican during the Clinton administration.
Great to see you, ambassador. Your personal thoughts today.

RAY FLYNN, FRM. AMB. TO THE VATICAN: Great to be with you. Well, you know, it's really exciting. I go way back with Karol Wojtyla, John Paul II, I guess to back September '69.

It is really amazing to follow the career of this extraordinary man. Today was electrifying throughout the streets of Rome. So many people from all across the world came to celebrate his 25th anniversary of his pontificate and all he has done.

But you know everything is personal and local when you sum up your life? I saw so many people in that audience tonight, handicapped people, people who probably see themselves in John Paul II. John Paul II told the people in the audience tonight that Christ is in everyone. I mean, it was just like Christmas in October here at the Vatican.

John Paul II, despite his frailty, the way he looks and so forth still inspires people, particularly people who are looking for that kind of moral and spiritual leadership. You know, I'd guess I'd have to say how I feel, I feel pretty darn proud to be a Roman Catholic. I really and truly do. And I feel very, very proud that I've known John Paul II so many years. Thank God for the pope and thank God for my religion.

PHILLIPS: You have connected to him in many ways personally and professionally. When you were mayor you led a task force on homelessness and hunger. This pope truly represents one people. You talk about somebody who spent so much time with the poor and always said that they should receive special consideration.

FLYNN: Even tonight, that's what his real ultimate message was. I think you described it really well. Capturing what he had to say.

But, you know, it's really incredible that this is a man who came from this experience, Nazi Germany occupying his country, September 1, 1939. then Stalin and then the Cold War and all those parts of his legacy, which are extraordinary.

But in the final analysis, it's like coming home and he reaches out to the people, the faithful. Not only just Catholics. He's not just the Catholic pope, but the world's pope. I think that is what the excitement is all about. Everybody feels part of this pride that John Paul II has brought to this world.

Let me just also say the greatness of him will be measured in years to come, in years to come particularly with the young people. Just wait for that one because that will be a major part of his legacy. His connection to young people.

PHILLIPS: He was such a supporter of global solidarity. You mention Nazi Germany. When you were ambassador to the Vatican, you helped secure these relations between Israel and the Vatican. This is a man who grew up in Poland, a lot of Jewish friends. I remember reading that he only had one friend that actually survived the Holocaust. He really took time to validate the Jewish heritage, didn't he?

FLYNN: He really did. Those experiences that he had growing up in Poland, you know, look, he lost his mother at an early age, he lost his brother and then he lost his father. He was alone in the world. He was living in a country where he couldn't even go to church or celebrate his faith.

Despite all those problems that were around him, he still fought through it all. And I think that's the message that people see in him that, despite the odds, you also can be successful.

I guess the word that comes to my mind, the phrase that comes to my mind that everything is possible with God and don't be afraid. Those are the two things that John Paul II said so many times. He said it his first angelis (ph) to the young people of the world just 25 years ago this very night here in St. Peter's Square. He said that to the youth of the world, don't be afraid. And he's still saying it here today, 25 years later. He's including everybody.

I think that's what gives us inspiration. And, you know what? It also gives us hope because this is the man who has gone through all this and all these struggles and all these problems of health and yet, at the same time, he's the voice for the poor. He's the voice for the people who need a voice. That's John Paul II. That's his legacy. It's just an amazing, amazing man.

PHILLIPS: Before we let you go, I understand rumor has it you asked the pope to pray for the Red Sox. Is that true?

FLYNN: Well, no. I'm part of the presidential delegation and I said to them this afternoon, I say, after mass, if the Holy Father smiles and he looks in our direction, that means the Red Sox are going to win.

(LAUGHTER)

FLYNN: Of course, I'm going to have to go to confession tomorrow after saying that one. There are a couple people with the president's delegation who actually believed me, that's the funny part about the whole thing.

PHILLIPS: That's the best part. All right. We'll talk to you after the game and, again... FLYNN: Just an Irish politician from Boston.

PHILLIPS: There you go. We can relate.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We know whose side God is on. I mean there is no doubt in all this, right?

PHILLIPS: The Irish side.

O'BRIEN: Right, Ray Flynn? It's very obvious.

FLYNN: Miles O'Brien, you're with me all the way.

O'BRIEN: Absolutely.

FLYNN: You're with the Red Sox.

O'BRIEN: The curse will die tonight. Thanks for your help there.

PHILLIPS: Thanks for your time. We love you, Ray.

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







Aired October 16, 2003 - 14:50   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're joined now by Ray Flynn. He's a former Boston Mayor and served as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican during the Clinton administration.
Great to see you, ambassador. Your personal thoughts today.

RAY FLYNN, FRM. AMB. TO THE VATICAN: Great to be with you. Well, you know, it's really exciting. I go way back with Karol Wojtyla, John Paul II, I guess to back September '69.

It is really amazing to follow the career of this extraordinary man. Today was electrifying throughout the streets of Rome. So many people from all across the world came to celebrate his 25th anniversary of his pontificate and all he has done.

But you know everything is personal and local when you sum up your life? I saw so many people in that audience tonight, handicapped people, people who probably see themselves in John Paul II. John Paul II told the people in the audience tonight that Christ is in everyone. I mean, it was just like Christmas in October here at the Vatican.

John Paul II, despite his frailty, the way he looks and so forth still inspires people, particularly people who are looking for that kind of moral and spiritual leadership. You know, I'd guess I'd have to say how I feel, I feel pretty darn proud to be a Roman Catholic. I really and truly do. And I feel very, very proud that I've known John Paul II so many years. Thank God for the pope and thank God for my religion.

PHILLIPS: You have connected to him in many ways personally and professionally. When you were mayor you led a task force on homelessness and hunger. This pope truly represents one people. You talk about somebody who spent so much time with the poor and always said that they should receive special consideration.

FLYNN: Even tonight, that's what his real ultimate message was. I think you described it really well. Capturing what he had to say.

But, you know, it's really incredible that this is a man who came from this experience, Nazi Germany occupying his country, September 1, 1939. then Stalin and then the Cold War and all those parts of his legacy, which are extraordinary.

But in the final analysis, it's like coming home and he reaches out to the people, the faithful. Not only just Catholics. He's not just the Catholic pope, but the world's pope. I think that is what the excitement is all about. Everybody feels part of this pride that John Paul II has brought to this world.

Let me just also say the greatness of him will be measured in years to come, in years to come particularly with the young people. Just wait for that one because that will be a major part of his legacy. His connection to young people.

PHILLIPS: He was such a supporter of global solidarity. You mention Nazi Germany. When you were ambassador to the Vatican, you helped secure these relations between Israel and the Vatican. This is a man who grew up in Poland, a lot of Jewish friends. I remember reading that he only had one friend that actually survived the Holocaust. He really took time to validate the Jewish heritage, didn't he?

FLYNN: He really did. Those experiences that he had growing up in Poland, you know, look, he lost his mother at an early age, he lost his brother and then he lost his father. He was alone in the world. He was living in a country where he couldn't even go to church or celebrate his faith.

Despite all those problems that were around him, he still fought through it all. And I think that's the message that people see in him that, despite the odds, you also can be successful.

I guess the word that comes to my mind, the phrase that comes to my mind that everything is possible with God and don't be afraid. Those are the two things that John Paul II said so many times. He said it his first angelis (ph) to the young people of the world just 25 years ago this very night here in St. Peter's Square. He said that to the youth of the world, don't be afraid. And he's still saying it here today, 25 years later. He's including everybody.

I think that's what gives us inspiration. And, you know what? It also gives us hope because this is the man who has gone through all this and all these struggles and all these problems of health and yet, at the same time, he's the voice for the poor. He's the voice for the people who need a voice. That's John Paul II. That's his legacy. It's just an amazing, amazing man.

PHILLIPS: Before we let you go, I understand rumor has it you asked the pope to pray for the Red Sox. Is that true?

FLYNN: Well, no. I'm part of the presidential delegation and I said to them this afternoon, I say, after mass, if the Holy Father smiles and he looks in our direction, that means the Red Sox are going to win.

(LAUGHTER)

FLYNN: Of course, I'm going to have to go to confession tomorrow after saying that one. There are a couple people with the president's delegation who actually believed me, that's the funny part about the whole thing.

PHILLIPS: That's the best part. All right. We'll talk to you after the game and, again... FLYNN: Just an Irish politician from Boston.

PHILLIPS: There you go. We can relate.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We know whose side God is on. I mean there is no doubt in all this, right?

PHILLIPS: The Irish side.

O'BRIEN: Right, Ray Flynn? It's very obvious.

FLYNN: Miles O'Brien, you're with me all the way.

O'BRIEN: Absolutely.

FLYNN: You're with the Red Sox.

O'BRIEN: The curse will die tonight. Thanks for your help there.

PHILLIPS: Thanks for your time. We love you, Ray.

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