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CNN Sunday Morning

One Million Catholics Attend Open Air Mass in Madrid

Aired May 04, 2003 - 11:06   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.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: As many as a million Catholics crowded into the center of Madrid for an event they will not soon forget. It was an open air mass, hosted by Pope John Paul II, and it celebrated the canonization of five new Spanish saints. The pontiff has named more saints than all his predecessors. CNN's Jim Bittermann is also in the Spanish capital -- Jim.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Anderson. Well, Cologn (ph) Plaza, the Columbus Plaza here in the center of Spain, is gradually coming back to normal after that big open air mass this morning. About a million people, as you mentioned, came out for that mass here with the pope, at which the pope named those five saints, hoping they'll set some examples for Spaniards.

The pope is right now meeting with the Spanish royal family, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. That's his last official duty here in Spain before heading off to the airport and back to Rome this evening.

In his message, what was his last message to the Spaniards today, he urged them not to forget their Christian roots. And he said that, even in a modern society, one could be profoundly devout -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right, Jim Bittermann, thanks 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






Aired May 4, 2003 - 11:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: As many as a million Catholics crowded into the center of Madrid for an event they will not soon forget. It was an open air mass, hosted by Pope John Paul II, and it celebrated the canonization of five new Spanish saints. The pontiff has named more saints than all his predecessors. CNN's Jim Bittermann is also in the Spanish capital -- Jim.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Anderson. Well, Cologn (ph) Plaza, the Columbus Plaza here in the center of Spain, is gradually coming back to normal after that big open air mass this morning. About a million people, as you mentioned, came out for that mass here with the pope, at which the pope named those five saints, hoping they'll set some examples for Spaniards.

The pope is right now meeting with the Spanish royal family, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. That's his last official duty here in Spain before heading off to the airport and back to Rome this evening.

In his message, what was his last message to the Spaniards today, he urged them not to forget their Christian roots. And he said that, even in a modern society, one could be profoundly devout -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right, Jim Bittermann, thanks 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