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CNN Sunday Morning
Pope Celebrates Mass in Croatia
Aired June 08, 2003 - 09:05 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: For the first time since becoming pope, John Paul II is away from Vatican for the official end of the Catholic observance of Easter. Instead, the pope celebrated Mass today with more than 100,000 pilgrims in Croatia. Alessio Vinci has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After four days on the road, Pope John Paul II begins to feel the toll of his heavy schedule, but Vatican officials says he has no intention to give up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's amazing. As you see everywhere the inner strength of this man that keeps him going without even asking to himself, I'm tired or is this too much, he just keep the pace, the pace that he himself has imposed to himself.
VINCI (on camera): So, what is it that keeps the pope going, giving him the strength and the energy to go on? Faith and prayer, to be sure, but also the people.
(voice-over): Under a punishing sun, more than 100,000 people fill the streets of Rijeka. Their cheers and applause appeared at times to rejuvenate the pope, people who want to share some of his burdens.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not really a fan of big gatherings. I'm not a fanatic, but I said to myself, if he can do it, I must be here.
VINCI: Tired perhaps, but his eyes often alert, seeking contact with the crowd. He delivered his homily in Croatian, speaking to ordinary people about ordinary problems, focusing on the family and the need to promote its essential nature.
POPE JOHN PAUL II (though translator): I'm thinking of the serious problems associated with housing and employment. It must not be forgotten that in helping the family, we also help to resolve other important problems such as providing assistance to the sick and the elderly, stopping the spread of crime and finding a remedy to drug abuse.
VINCI: It is that simple touch that grabs the crowd.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (though translator): This is a pope who is a simple man, who desires to communicate and relates to all people regardless, whether they are intellectuals or workers. That is the pope's spirit, not only in Croatia, but in the entire world. That's why people respect him.
VINCI: And with that kind of respect, the pope can count on the support of ordinary people traveling around the world as the simple pastor he likes to be.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VINCI: And the pope at this time is getting a much needed rest. It is extremely hot at this time in the afternoon, it is 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon here. Later today he then meets the Croatian prime minister and then he visits the sanctuary here in Rijeka. Tomorrow, the last day of the pope here in Croatia, he goes to Zadar, about an hour from here and then he returns to Rome. And, I can tell you we've been following him five days almost, around Croatia and we're looking forward to go home and rest ourselves.
Back to you Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. I bet you are. Alessio Vinci, thanks so much for reporting to us today, from Croatia.
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 June 8, 2003 - 09:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: For the first time since becoming pope, John Paul II is away from Vatican for the official end of the Catholic observance of Easter. Instead, the pope celebrated Mass today with more than 100,000 pilgrims in Croatia. Alessio Vinci has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After four days on the road, Pope John Paul II begins to feel the toll of his heavy schedule, but Vatican officials says he has no intention to give up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's amazing. As you see everywhere the inner strength of this man that keeps him going without even asking to himself, I'm tired or is this too much, he just keep the pace, the pace that he himself has imposed to himself.
VINCI (on camera): So, what is it that keeps the pope going, giving him the strength and the energy to go on? Faith and prayer, to be sure, but also the people.
(voice-over): Under a punishing sun, more than 100,000 people fill the streets of Rijeka. Their cheers and applause appeared at times to rejuvenate the pope, people who want to share some of his burdens.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not really a fan of big gatherings. I'm not a fanatic, but I said to myself, if he can do it, I must be here.
VINCI: Tired perhaps, but his eyes often alert, seeking contact with the crowd. He delivered his homily in Croatian, speaking to ordinary people about ordinary problems, focusing on the family and the need to promote its essential nature.
POPE JOHN PAUL II (though translator): I'm thinking of the serious problems associated with housing and employment. It must not be forgotten that in helping the family, we also help to resolve other important problems such as providing assistance to the sick and the elderly, stopping the spread of crime and finding a remedy to drug abuse.
VINCI: It is that simple touch that grabs the crowd.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (though translator): This is a pope who is a simple man, who desires to communicate and relates to all people regardless, whether they are intellectuals or workers. That is the pope's spirit, not only in Croatia, but in the entire world. That's why people respect him.
VINCI: And with that kind of respect, the pope can count on the support of ordinary people traveling around the world as the simple pastor he likes to be.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VINCI: And the pope at this time is getting a much needed rest. It is extremely hot at this time in the afternoon, it is 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon here. Later today he then meets the Croatian prime minister and then he visits the sanctuary here in Rijeka. Tomorrow, the last day of the pope here in Croatia, he goes to Zadar, about an hour from here and then he returns to Rome. And, I can tell you we've been following him five days almost, around Croatia and we're looking forward to go home and rest ourselves.
Back to you Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. I bet you are. Alessio Vinci, thanks so much for reporting to us today, from Croatia.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
