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Concerns About Health of Pope John Paul II Clouding Celebrations Slightly
Aired October 16, 2003 - 08:15 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Concerns about the health of Pope John Paul II clouding celebrations slightly today. That marks 25 years as head of the Roman Catholic Church. Seventy thousand expected to fill St. Peter's Square a bit later today to mark that historic occasion. In fact, it'll start in about four hours from now.
Bishop Wilton Gregory is one of the 70,000, president of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, live with us now from Vatican City.
Bishop Gregory, thank you for your time here on AMERICAN MORNING.
We have talked a lot this week about what this day and this week means to Roman Catholics around the world.
What do you think it also means to religions around the world?
BISHOP WILTON GREGORY, U.S. CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS: Well, I think because of the extensive ecumenical and interfaith contributions that Pope John Paul II has made to the world of faith, most of the world's religious leaders are rejoicing with him and seeing this jubilee that he has attained as really a powerful and a happy moment for the world of religious believers everywhere.
HEMMER: It has been well noted throughout his career, 25 years in the Vatican, that he is a person who speaks out for the protection of life in every way. At the point where this pope leaves his position in Vatican City, what do you think is his greatest legacy now?
GREGORY: Well, it's his absolute fidelity and consistency, Bill. Even in his frailty, as he obviously suffers from the physical limitations that are his, he continues to witness the dignity of human life at every moment of its existence. Even as he has preached, so is he living. And he's a walking example of faith come to life.
HEMMER: I know the church doesn't deal with poll numbers very often. That's more left for politics. But we have a survey out that we did along with the folks at Gallup that I want to share with you right now and just get your reaction to this.
Half of the U.S. Catholics, Americans, this is now, think the pope should step down for health reasons.
How do you interpret that?
GREGORY: I would suggest, first of all, that because it's a poll and because we Americans have a fondness for polls, polls only take a snapshot. They take an attitude at a particular moment. I think this particular issue reflects the confusion that many people have over the responsibilities that Pope John Paul II has as leader of the church and a job. It's not a job for him. It has never been a job. It's a vocation. It's a commitment. It's a relationship that he has with Christ and the church and he intends to be absolutely faithful to that relationship until the lord calls him home.
HEMMER: Yes, Bishop Gregory...
GREGORY: So, retirement...
HEMMER: ... in the 30 seconds we have left here, I just want to get to a few more numbers if we can squeeze them in. Also in that same survey, 53 percent of Americans think the pope is out of touch with the modern world; 63 percent, however, a majority, approve of the job he's doing. However, that's down from about 89 percent back in 1999, four years ago.
Take those numbers, if you could. I know it's not your favorite topic, but interpret those for us now.
GREGORY: Again, the Holy Father's mission and his work is to be the spiritual and moral voice of the church. And the spiritual and moral voice of the church has never been limited or necessarily judged by popularity. Frequently, he has to take an unpopular position because it's the truth, Bill.
HEMMER: And when I interrupted you, you were going on to say that he has no plans to retire. And we have noted that many times.
Thank you, Bishop Gregory.
Enjoy the day today in Vatican City, 25 years of the papacy.
GREGORY: Thank you.
HEMMER: You've got it.
GREGORY: Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Celebrations Slightly>
Aired October 16, 2003 - 08:15 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Concerns about the health of Pope John Paul II clouding celebrations slightly today. That marks 25 years as head of the Roman Catholic Church. Seventy thousand expected to fill St. Peter's Square a bit later today to mark that historic occasion. In fact, it'll start in about four hours from now.
Bishop Wilton Gregory is one of the 70,000, president of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, live with us now from Vatican City.
Bishop Gregory, thank you for your time here on AMERICAN MORNING.
We have talked a lot this week about what this day and this week means to Roman Catholics around the world.
What do you think it also means to religions around the world?
BISHOP WILTON GREGORY, U.S. CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS: Well, I think because of the extensive ecumenical and interfaith contributions that Pope John Paul II has made to the world of faith, most of the world's religious leaders are rejoicing with him and seeing this jubilee that he has attained as really a powerful and a happy moment for the world of religious believers everywhere.
HEMMER: It has been well noted throughout his career, 25 years in the Vatican, that he is a person who speaks out for the protection of life in every way. At the point where this pope leaves his position in Vatican City, what do you think is his greatest legacy now?
GREGORY: Well, it's his absolute fidelity and consistency, Bill. Even in his frailty, as he obviously suffers from the physical limitations that are his, he continues to witness the dignity of human life at every moment of its existence. Even as he has preached, so is he living. And he's a walking example of faith come to life.
HEMMER: I know the church doesn't deal with poll numbers very often. That's more left for politics. But we have a survey out that we did along with the folks at Gallup that I want to share with you right now and just get your reaction to this.
Half of the U.S. Catholics, Americans, this is now, think the pope should step down for health reasons.
How do you interpret that?
GREGORY: I would suggest, first of all, that because it's a poll and because we Americans have a fondness for polls, polls only take a snapshot. They take an attitude at a particular moment. I think this particular issue reflects the confusion that many people have over the responsibilities that Pope John Paul II has as leader of the church and a job. It's not a job for him. It has never been a job. It's a vocation. It's a commitment. It's a relationship that he has with Christ and the church and he intends to be absolutely faithful to that relationship until the lord calls him home.
HEMMER: Yes, Bishop Gregory...
GREGORY: So, retirement...
HEMMER: ... in the 30 seconds we have left here, I just want to get to a few more numbers if we can squeeze them in. Also in that same survey, 53 percent of Americans think the pope is out of touch with the modern world; 63 percent, however, a majority, approve of the job he's doing. However, that's down from about 89 percent back in 1999, four years ago.
Take those numbers, if you could. I know it's not your favorite topic, but interpret those for us now.
GREGORY: Again, the Holy Father's mission and his work is to be the spiritual and moral voice of the church. And the spiritual and moral voice of the church has never been limited or necessarily judged by popularity. Frequently, he has to take an unpopular position because it's the truth, Bill.
HEMMER: And when I interrupted you, you were going on to say that he has no plans to retire. And we have noted that many times.
Thank you, Bishop Gregory.
Enjoy the day today in Vatican City, 25 years of the papacy.
GREGORY: Thank you.
HEMMER: You've got it.
GREGORY: Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Celebrations Slightly>
