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Crowds Continue to Pack St. Peter's Square

Aired April 04, 2005 - 13:37   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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Crowds continue to pack St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, as you see in this live picture. They are waiting to pay respects to Pope John Paul II.
Now, in just about 90 minutes, the general public will be admitted to the basilica, where the pope's body was moved earlier today. The White House says President Bush will leave Wednesday for Rome, where he will attend funeral services for Pope John Paul II. That happens on Friday. Now today, the president remembered the pope as a man of peace who showed how one person could make a difference in the lives of others.

All around the world special services honor the pope today. In London, a memorial at Westminster cathedral. Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles among those attending. But the pope's funeral means another change of plans for the couple, who's wedding was also planned for Friday. Now Charles will spend that day at the Vatican as the official representative of the British royal family. Miss Parker Bowles will not be joining him. The knot tying, though, has been rescheduled for Saturday.

Right now in New Jersey, hazmat crews respond to a possible biological attack, while Connecticut authorities try to stop a chemical weapons attack. Relax, this is only a test. It starts the weeklong anti-terror drill, which is the largest ever staged in the U.S. Top Off 3 (ph), which is what it's called, is designed to test the readiness of state and local officials in the event of an actual terror strike.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: As tens of thousands of worshipers come to St. Peter's Square to mourn Pope John Paul II, steps toward a new leadership are being taken; 117 cardinals from across the globe are amassing for the secret conclave, a time-honored ritual which will end with the selection of a new pope.

CNN's Paula Zahn has a look now at some of the top contenders.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Cardinal Francis Arinze. Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi.

These three names are unfamiliar. But Vatican watchers say they are among the frontrunners to be the next pope.

The College of Cardinals shocked the world in 1978, when they chose a Polish cardinal, making Pope John Paul II the first non- Italian pope in more than 450 years.

That shift, away from the Italian domination in the Catholic Church, has continued over the past 26 years.

Today, the church's strongest growth is in Third World countries. More than half the world's Catholics live in Asia, Africa, Latin and South America. And many say it's only a matter of time before a pope comes from one of these regions.

CARDINAL FRANCIS ARINZE: From the beginning of time ...

ZAHN: That could help the chances of Cardinal Arinze, the Vatican's fourth-ranking prelate, who is from Nigeria.

If elected, he would be only the second African to head the church. Like John Paul II, Arinze is a staunch conservative. He's also one of the pope's closest advisers.

ARINZE: Holy Father, thank you so much.

ZAHN: But some Vatican watchers say age may prove to be a factor. That an older cardinal has the best chance to become the next pope. Many believe the current papacy has lasted too long, and that the next pontiff will be a transition pope.

That thinking increases the prospects for Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany. He'll turn 78 in mid-April. As head of the church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he has been a strong enforcer of the pope's conservative positions on church doctrine.

Others say there's a powerful sentiment to return to tradition and elect an Italian, which would make Cardinal Tettamanzi a favorite.

Known for his diplomatic skills, Cardinal Tettamanzi, the Archbishop of Milan, is also close to Opus Dei, the ultraconservative Catholic group.

Ultimately, the person who may have the most influence on who becomes the next pope is John Paul II. He was responsible for appointing almost all of the 117 cardinals eligible to vote, making it very likely that the next pope will share Pope John Paul II's conservative stances on issues like abortion and the role of women in the church.

But all this speculation about front-runners is just speculation. There's a saying in Rome, to enter the conclave believing one will become pope is a sure way to exit it a cardinal.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: All right. With that knowledge, who is the best candidate to succeed the pope? Well, whoever is chosen will no doubt face awesome challenges and decisions regarding the direction of the church.

Let's bring in our Vatican analyst now, John Allen, live from Rome to talk a little about that. John, there are 117 cardinals who will be voting. What exactly are they looking for in a new pope?

JOHN ALLEN, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: Well, to some extent, Betty, you know, that question will differ with -- almost with each cardinal. I mean, obviously, these are men who have risen to senior leadership positions in the Catholic Church, are pretty used to trusting their own judgments and own instincts, which means they don't all think alike on every question.

I think there are some cardinals who would be looking for a pope who would be very much in continuity with John Paul II on both his doctrinal stance, also his outreach, his evangelizing style and so forth. Other cardinals would be looking for a pope who would take more -- the church's internal business a little bit more in his own hands, be a bit more of a governor inside the church.

Some cardinals would like to see an Italian pope, some would like to see a pope from the developing world. The fact that there is that kind of clash, that it isn't predictable, is part of what makes this so difficult to anticipate, but also so fascinating.

NGUYEN: You know, you struck on something that I thought was very interesting, just the fact that the crowd of possible frontrunners is pretty diverse.

ALLEN: Yes, that's absolutely right. There's a tendency to think that because this pope has appointed so many of these cardinals -- I mean, after all, 114 of the 117 cardinals who will elect the next pope are John Paul II appointees -- there's a tendency to think that they must, therefore, all think alike. But nothing could be further from the truth. I mean, for one thing, you know, it's a bit like Supreme Court justices. You can try to pack a court if you want, but you can't predict what people are going to do once they have the job.

But for another thing, I just don't see any evidence that John Paul II had a kind of, you know, ideological filter test that he applied when appointing cardinals. I mean, in each group of his cardinals, you can find people who think a little bit more to the left, a little more to the right, who are more interested in social justice, a little more interested in doctrine, who are a little more interested about issues inside the church, a little bit more outside the church. There is a real kind of surprising diversity in that body of 117 men, and, again, to return to where we started, that's what makes this so difficult to handicap.

NGUYEN: You know, John, it's one thing to have a diverse crowd. But how realistic is it that the next pope could be a Latin American or an African?

ALLEN: Well, I think it's actually fairly realistic. I mean, obviously, there is a strong current of thought in the college that would giver the benefit of the doubt, so to speak, to an Italian, on the grounds that the pope is, after all, also the bishop of Rome. That is really the core or the origins, rather, of the office of the papacy. And so someone who knows the Italian language and culture certainly would, you know, would be somebody you'd have to look at seriously. But on the other hand, two-thirds of the Catholics in the world today live in the developing world. Half of them, roughly, live in Latin America alone. And I think many cardinals believe the election of the pope out of the developing world would be a very forward- looking choice.

And the other motive there would be that in Latin America, the Catholic Church is facing very significant threats from the so-called sects. These are aggressively missionary, Pentecostal and evangelical movements that are cutting into traditional Catholic strongholds in places like Brazil, Southern Mexico, in Guatemala, in Peru, and on and on. And so many cardinals would believe that the election of a Latin American pope would also be a real shot in the arm, so to speak, to the Catholic Church in that part of the world. So I think it's a serious possibility.

NGUYEN: Let me ask you this, quickly. It's odd to imagine that there's some behind-the-scenes lobbying to become pope, but how does one stand out from the crowd?

ALLEN: By not trying to, I think, is probably the quick answer to that question. I think anyone who is seen as too aggressively putting themselves forward for the job, that they're -- that's sort of seen as distasteful. And it also is an indication to many cardinals, you really don't understand what you're getting into, because this is an awesome responsibility that you carry from the moment you're elected till the day you die. And so I think the best way to be elected pope probably is not to be hustling too obviously for the job.

NGUYEN: All right, CNN Vatican analyst John Allen, thank you -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: We want to go back live to Vatican City, where our Bill Hemmer is gauging the hundreds of thousands of the faithful waiting to finally get the first glance, or maybe even a longer glimpse, at the pope as he lies in state. Bill, what do you know? Doors open soon.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, Kyra, in fact, the doors have opened just about five minutes ago. We can observe from our location here in St. Peter's Square. It's hard for us to show on the camera because it's such a giant place and we're still so far away, but way off in the distance there, you can see the main doors open and a number of people now going up the stairs into St. Peter's Basilica.

Now, Kyra, what we understand now is that these people here are the lucky ones because they've waited the longest, essentially. They were here in the early hours of the afternoon, getting ready for that procession that we watched, when Pope John Paul II's body was brought out from the Apostolic Palace into St. Peter's Square and then up those stairs. And they turned him around to face the crowd one more time and the applause went through St. Peter's Square for the tens of thousands of people who gathered here.

Now, we make note of the doors opening because we were not expecting this for another hour and 15 minutes. But again, we haven't expected a lot of things throughout the past three days and this is one thing we did not necessarily plan on for this hour. I will tell you, though, the people who have come here to wait, this is going to be very good news. It's almost 8:00 in the evening here and any time this line gets started and the more people are able to pass through and pay their final respects, you're going to get a lot more people.

The pilgrims here have come to Vatican City. A lot more pleased people based on the fact that they'll be able to give the final word to Pope John Paul II. What -- Kyra, you cannot see also, though, is behind me, there is a line of people that goes back a half mile and this is just the beginning stages of this line and to every person we talk to, they say it does not matter how long the wait, they will be here, no matter how long the hour, to pay their final respects. So the doors are open and the observation, the public observation, appears to be getting here at St. Peter's -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Bill, as we look at so many people there in the square and the estimated number of millions to come and pay their respects, there's been talk possibly, that instead of being interred in the grotto there in St. Peter's Basilica, that it's possible the pope's remains might move to the main floor of the basilica, because so many people are going to want to come and visit his tomb. Do you know if that's been talked about any more at length, if that's still a possibility?

HEMMER: Well, so much of what the Vatican does is held pretty close to the vest. We have found that out in the days we've been here. But earlier today, there was a bit of a what you consider an avalanche of information in a two-hour period. And during that period, we learned through the Vatican that there was no papal will regarding the burial handed down from Pope John Paul II. What that essentially means. as far as we know here, late into the evening here at the Vatican is that he will be buried underneath the altar at St. Peter's Basilica, which is the same area, almost like a catacomb area, beneath the altar, where you can literally walk down into. If you're ever a tourist and you come to St. Peter's Basilica, you can go down there and view so many popes who have been buried down there. It's our understanding that that will remain the resting place for Pope John Paul II.

As I say that, there have been countless rumors and reports floating through Rome for the past several days, indicating that perhaps his heart would be transported to Poland and buried there, but as far as that goes, Kyra, there is nothing we can confirm for now. For now, we understand, his body will rest forever in St. Peter's Basilica.

PHILLIPS: Bill, for the first time, we're getting a chance to see inside actually -- inside the basilica as people are now coming through the front doors, we're seeing inside and outside. Tell me how long will each individual get to spend in there? Do you have to keep moving? Can you stop for a couple seconds and pray? What have been -- I can just imagine there are strict guidelines considering how many people there are.

HEMMER: I will tell you, the police here in Rome, and the Vatican security officials and the Swiss Guards have been overwhelmingly patient with everyone, including the media, who have gathered here in Italy.

Earlier today, I was at the private viewing that was in the Apostolic Palace, and we were told, Kyra, that this would be a private viewing, and when we showed up there were already 5,000 people in line. It wasn't so private when we got there, but when we finally got up to the body of Pope John Paul II, we had about a minute, maybe a little more than that. People were very gentle and very respectful to come, say their prayer in silence and then move on on their own time, but nobody lingered more than a couple minutes at the most, and everyone was, as you can imagine, very respectful.

PHILLIPS: What was that like for you, bill?

HEMMER: Wow, what was that like for me? I was raised a Catholic, so I've kind of been around this whole atmosphere for the past 40 years. A great sense of spirit actually overcomes an individual, and I was with a big group of people there, too, and we all had a similar reaction. When you go inside the Apostolic Palace, there is a huge courtyard which is the initial meeting area, then you're led up these stone stairs, that turn to marble stairs, then you go into another courtyard, and the line continues to wind its way all the way through this building. And eventually you're led to an elevator that can hold about seven, eight people at a time, and you're raised up into the second floor of the Apostolic Palace, and then you enter the hallways with these frescoes painted by Raphael that lead to the area where Pope John Paul II was resting, and so many people entered as they exited, with respect and dignity, and a lot of tears on the faces of the people we saw today.

More in a moment from the Vatican.

PHILLIPS: Our Bill Hemmer there in Vatican City. We're going to take a quick break. Stay with us, Bill.

Finally for the first time the public getting a chance to pay their respects to Pope John Paul II. Take you back to St. Peter's Basilica, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: She is known by some as the woman who broke up the Beatles. By others as a misunderstood artist with a passion for world peace. An avant-garde superstar in her own right, Yoko Ono married John Lennon in 1969 and gave birth to his son, Sean, six years later. She was by her husband's side when he was gunned down outside of their New York City apartment building in 1980.

Since his death, Ono has remained active in causes she views as keeping Lennon's spirit alive. In 2003, she started the Lennon/Ono Grant for Peace which is awarded to people who benefit the human race.

YOKO ONO: It's the type of thing that John would have approved, and he would have loved to see happen. And I thought it was very important that this award is created.

ZAHN: Yoko Ono is now 72 years old, a senior citizen with a hippie sensible. Her song "Every Man, Every Woman" hit the charts in late 2004. Yoko is also collaborating with former Beatles Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison's widow, Olivia, to create a new Cirque Du Soleil show at the Mirage in Las Vegas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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 April 4, 2005 - 13:37   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Crowds continue to pack St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, as you see in this live picture. They are waiting to pay respects to Pope John Paul II.
Now, in just about 90 minutes, the general public will be admitted to the basilica, where the pope's body was moved earlier today. The White House says President Bush will leave Wednesday for Rome, where he will attend funeral services for Pope John Paul II. That happens on Friday. Now today, the president remembered the pope as a man of peace who showed how one person could make a difference in the lives of others.

All around the world special services honor the pope today. In London, a memorial at Westminster cathedral. Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles among those attending. But the pope's funeral means another change of plans for the couple, who's wedding was also planned for Friday. Now Charles will spend that day at the Vatican as the official representative of the British royal family. Miss Parker Bowles will not be joining him. The knot tying, though, has been rescheduled for Saturday.

Right now in New Jersey, hazmat crews respond to a possible biological attack, while Connecticut authorities try to stop a chemical weapons attack. Relax, this is only a test. It starts the weeklong anti-terror drill, which is the largest ever staged in the U.S. Top Off 3 (ph), which is what it's called, is designed to test the readiness of state and local officials in the event of an actual terror strike.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: As tens of thousands of worshipers come to St. Peter's Square to mourn Pope John Paul II, steps toward a new leadership are being taken; 117 cardinals from across the globe are amassing for the secret conclave, a time-honored ritual which will end with the selection of a new pope.

CNN's Paula Zahn has a look now at some of the top contenders.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Cardinal Francis Arinze. Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi.

These three names are unfamiliar. But Vatican watchers say they are among the frontrunners to be the next pope.

The College of Cardinals shocked the world in 1978, when they chose a Polish cardinal, making Pope John Paul II the first non- Italian pope in more than 450 years.

That shift, away from the Italian domination in the Catholic Church, has continued over the past 26 years.

Today, the church's strongest growth is in Third World countries. More than half the world's Catholics live in Asia, Africa, Latin and South America. And many say it's only a matter of time before a pope comes from one of these regions.

CARDINAL FRANCIS ARINZE: From the beginning of time ...

ZAHN: That could help the chances of Cardinal Arinze, the Vatican's fourth-ranking prelate, who is from Nigeria.

If elected, he would be only the second African to head the church. Like John Paul II, Arinze is a staunch conservative. He's also one of the pope's closest advisers.

ARINZE: Holy Father, thank you so much.

ZAHN: But some Vatican watchers say age may prove to be a factor. That an older cardinal has the best chance to become the next pope. Many believe the current papacy has lasted too long, and that the next pontiff will be a transition pope.

That thinking increases the prospects for Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany. He'll turn 78 in mid-April. As head of the church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he has been a strong enforcer of the pope's conservative positions on church doctrine.

Others say there's a powerful sentiment to return to tradition and elect an Italian, which would make Cardinal Tettamanzi a favorite.

Known for his diplomatic skills, Cardinal Tettamanzi, the Archbishop of Milan, is also close to Opus Dei, the ultraconservative Catholic group.

Ultimately, the person who may have the most influence on who becomes the next pope is John Paul II. He was responsible for appointing almost all of the 117 cardinals eligible to vote, making it very likely that the next pope will share Pope John Paul II's conservative stances on issues like abortion and the role of women in the church.

But all this speculation about front-runners is just speculation. There's a saying in Rome, to enter the conclave believing one will become pope is a sure way to exit it a cardinal.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: All right. With that knowledge, who is the best candidate to succeed the pope? Well, whoever is chosen will no doubt face awesome challenges and decisions regarding the direction of the church.

Let's bring in our Vatican analyst now, John Allen, live from Rome to talk a little about that. John, there are 117 cardinals who will be voting. What exactly are they looking for in a new pope?

JOHN ALLEN, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: Well, to some extent, Betty, you know, that question will differ with -- almost with each cardinal. I mean, obviously, these are men who have risen to senior leadership positions in the Catholic Church, are pretty used to trusting their own judgments and own instincts, which means they don't all think alike on every question.

I think there are some cardinals who would be looking for a pope who would be very much in continuity with John Paul II on both his doctrinal stance, also his outreach, his evangelizing style and so forth. Other cardinals would be looking for a pope who would take more -- the church's internal business a little bit more in his own hands, be a bit more of a governor inside the church.

Some cardinals would like to see an Italian pope, some would like to see a pope from the developing world. The fact that there is that kind of clash, that it isn't predictable, is part of what makes this so difficult to anticipate, but also so fascinating.

NGUYEN: You know, you struck on something that I thought was very interesting, just the fact that the crowd of possible frontrunners is pretty diverse.

ALLEN: Yes, that's absolutely right. There's a tendency to think that because this pope has appointed so many of these cardinals -- I mean, after all, 114 of the 117 cardinals who will elect the next pope are John Paul II appointees -- there's a tendency to think that they must, therefore, all think alike. But nothing could be further from the truth. I mean, for one thing, you know, it's a bit like Supreme Court justices. You can try to pack a court if you want, but you can't predict what people are going to do once they have the job.

But for another thing, I just don't see any evidence that John Paul II had a kind of, you know, ideological filter test that he applied when appointing cardinals. I mean, in each group of his cardinals, you can find people who think a little bit more to the left, a little more to the right, who are more interested in social justice, a little more interested in doctrine, who are a little more interested about issues inside the church, a little bit more outside the church. There is a real kind of surprising diversity in that body of 117 men, and, again, to return to where we started, that's what makes this so difficult to handicap.

NGUYEN: You know, John, it's one thing to have a diverse crowd. But how realistic is it that the next pope could be a Latin American or an African?

ALLEN: Well, I think it's actually fairly realistic. I mean, obviously, there is a strong current of thought in the college that would giver the benefit of the doubt, so to speak, to an Italian, on the grounds that the pope is, after all, also the bishop of Rome. That is really the core or the origins, rather, of the office of the papacy. And so someone who knows the Italian language and culture certainly would, you know, would be somebody you'd have to look at seriously. But on the other hand, two-thirds of the Catholics in the world today live in the developing world. Half of them, roughly, live in Latin America alone. And I think many cardinals believe the election of the pope out of the developing world would be a very forward- looking choice.

And the other motive there would be that in Latin America, the Catholic Church is facing very significant threats from the so-called sects. These are aggressively missionary, Pentecostal and evangelical movements that are cutting into traditional Catholic strongholds in places like Brazil, Southern Mexico, in Guatemala, in Peru, and on and on. And so many cardinals would believe that the election of a Latin American pope would also be a real shot in the arm, so to speak, to the Catholic Church in that part of the world. So I think it's a serious possibility.

NGUYEN: Let me ask you this, quickly. It's odd to imagine that there's some behind-the-scenes lobbying to become pope, but how does one stand out from the crowd?

ALLEN: By not trying to, I think, is probably the quick answer to that question. I think anyone who is seen as too aggressively putting themselves forward for the job, that they're -- that's sort of seen as distasteful. And it also is an indication to many cardinals, you really don't understand what you're getting into, because this is an awesome responsibility that you carry from the moment you're elected till the day you die. And so I think the best way to be elected pope probably is not to be hustling too obviously for the job.

NGUYEN: All right, CNN Vatican analyst John Allen, thank you -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: We want to go back live to Vatican City, where our Bill Hemmer is gauging the hundreds of thousands of the faithful waiting to finally get the first glance, or maybe even a longer glimpse, at the pope as he lies in state. Bill, what do you know? Doors open soon.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, Kyra, in fact, the doors have opened just about five minutes ago. We can observe from our location here in St. Peter's Square. It's hard for us to show on the camera because it's such a giant place and we're still so far away, but way off in the distance there, you can see the main doors open and a number of people now going up the stairs into St. Peter's Basilica.

Now, Kyra, what we understand now is that these people here are the lucky ones because they've waited the longest, essentially. They were here in the early hours of the afternoon, getting ready for that procession that we watched, when Pope John Paul II's body was brought out from the Apostolic Palace into St. Peter's Square and then up those stairs. And they turned him around to face the crowd one more time and the applause went through St. Peter's Square for the tens of thousands of people who gathered here.

Now, we make note of the doors opening because we were not expecting this for another hour and 15 minutes. But again, we haven't expected a lot of things throughout the past three days and this is one thing we did not necessarily plan on for this hour. I will tell you, though, the people who have come here to wait, this is going to be very good news. It's almost 8:00 in the evening here and any time this line gets started and the more people are able to pass through and pay their final respects, you're going to get a lot more people.

The pilgrims here have come to Vatican City. A lot more pleased people based on the fact that they'll be able to give the final word to Pope John Paul II. What -- Kyra, you cannot see also, though, is behind me, there is a line of people that goes back a half mile and this is just the beginning stages of this line and to every person we talk to, they say it does not matter how long the wait, they will be here, no matter how long the hour, to pay their final respects. So the doors are open and the observation, the public observation, appears to be getting here at St. Peter's -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Bill, as we look at so many people there in the square and the estimated number of millions to come and pay their respects, there's been talk possibly, that instead of being interred in the grotto there in St. Peter's Basilica, that it's possible the pope's remains might move to the main floor of the basilica, because so many people are going to want to come and visit his tomb. Do you know if that's been talked about any more at length, if that's still a possibility?

HEMMER: Well, so much of what the Vatican does is held pretty close to the vest. We have found that out in the days we've been here. But earlier today, there was a bit of a what you consider an avalanche of information in a two-hour period. And during that period, we learned through the Vatican that there was no papal will regarding the burial handed down from Pope John Paul II. What that essentially means. as far as we know here, late into the evening here at the Vatican is that he will be buried underneath the altar at St. Peter's Basilica, which is the same area, almost like a catacomb area, beneath the altar, where you can literally walk down into. If you're ever a tourist and you come to St. Peter's Basilica, you can go down there and view so many popes who have been buried down there. It's our understanding that that will remain the resting place for Pope John Paul II.

As I say that, there have been countless rumors and reports floating through Rome for the past several days, indicating that perhaps his heart would be transported to Poland and buried there, but as far as that goes, Kyra, there is nothing we can confirm for now. For now, we understand, his body will rest forever in St. Peter's Basilica.

PHILLIPS: Bill, for the first time, we're getting a chance to see inside actually -- inside the basilica as people are now coming through the front doors, we're seeing inside and outside. Tell me how long will each individual get to spend in there? Do you have to keep moving? Can you stop for a couple seconds and pray? What have been -- I can just imagine there are strict guidelines considering how many people there are.

HEMMER: I will tell you, the police here in Rome, and the Vatican security officials and the Swiss Guards have been overwhelmingly patient with everyone, including the media, who have gathered here in Italy.

Earlier today, I was at the private viewing that was in the Apostolic Palace, and we were told, Kyra, that this would be a private viewing, and when we showed up there were already 5,000 people in line. It wasn't so private when we got there, but when we finally got up to the body of Pope John Paul II, we had about a minute, maybe a little more than that. People were very gentle and very respectful to come, say their prayer in silence and then move on on their own time, but nobody lingered more than a couple minutes at the most, and everyone was, as you can imagine, very respectful.

PHILLIPS: What was that like for you, bill?

HEMMER: Wow, what was that like for me? I was raised a Catholic, so I've kind of been around this whole atmosphere for the past 40 years. A great sense of spirit actually overcomes an individual, and I was with a big group of people there, too, and we all had a similar reaction. When you go inside the Apostolic Palace, there is a huge courtyard which is the initial meeting area, then you're led up these stone stairs, that turn to marble stairs, then you go into another courtyard, and the line continues to wind its way all the way through this building. And eventually you're led to an elevator that can hold about seven, eight people at a time, and you're raised up into the second floor of the Apostolic Palace, and then you enter the hallways with these frescoes painted by Raphael that lead to the area where Pope John Paul II was resting, and so many people entered as they exited, with respect and dignity, and a lot of tears on the faces of the people we saw today.

More in a moment from the Vatican.

PHILLIPS: Our Bill Hemmer there in Vatican City. We're going to take a quick break. Stay with us, Bill.

Finally for the first time the public getting a chance to pay their respects to Pope John Paul II. Take you back to St. Peter's Basilica, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: She is known by some as the woman who broke up the Beatles. By others as a misunderstood artist with a passion for world peace. An avant-garde superstar in her own right, Yoko Ono married John Lennon in 1969 and gave birth to his son, Sean, six years later. She was by her husband's side when he was gunned down outside of their New York City apartment building in 1980.

Since his death, Ono has remained active in causes she views as keeping Lennon's spirit alive. In 2003, she started the Lennon/Ono Grant for Peace which is awarded to people who benefit the human race.

YOKO ONO: It's the type of thing that John would have approved, and he would have loved to see happen. And I thought it was very important that this award is created.

ZAHN: Yoko Ono is now 72 years old, a senior citizen with a hippie sensible. Her song "Every Man, Every Woman" hit the charts in late 2004. Yoko is also collaborating with former Beatles Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison's widow, Olivia, to create a new Cirque Du Soleil show at the Mirage in Las Vegas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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