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CNN Sunday Morning
Mother Teresa Beatified
Aired October 19, 2003 - 08:02 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.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: In Vatican City this morning, Pope John Paul II celebrated mass at a ceremony to beatify Mother Teresa. CNN Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci was there and joins us live with more -- Alessio.
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Hello to you, Suzanne. St. Peter's Square overflowed with pilgrims from all around the world, not just from Italy or Europe, with some flags from Albania, flags from Poland, but also pilgrims from as far as India. We understand 2,000 pilgrims from India made a trip, as well as 450 missionaries of charity funded from Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
In the hearts and minds of every Catholics around the world, indeed she may already be a saint. And today, the pope, by pronouncing her blessed, put her one step closer from official sainthood. One more miracle will have to be attributed to her before she will become a full-fledged saint.
During the ceremony, a giant portrait of Mother Teresa smiling was unveiled to the cheers of the hundreds of thousands who were in St. Peter's Square this morning. But also, some of the nuns belonging to her mission, we've seen them wiping away tears for what obviously must have been an extremely emotional moment for them during the ceremony, of course. There were also some moments where traditional music was played and there were some dances there. There was really a rare display of colors seen here in the Vatican, especially during this kind of solemn ceremony.
Again, the pope today looked somewhat frail and tired. He did not manage to read the homily that he had prepared for this very special occasion. He had two aides reading the homily for him. This has been the case in recent days and weeks during public occasions with the pope. At least before he did manage to read the opening and the end of those homilies. This time, the pope did not even attempt to read a few words.
He did, though, muster enough strength at the end of the mass, where he did preside over the communion rite. And at the end of that mass, he did take a tour of St. Peter's Square in his now famous open- deck pope mobile. This is a way for the pope to get closer to the pilgrims and to thank the hundreds of thousands who from all around the world arrived here on this beautiful day here in St. Peter's Square.
There was a furious rain over Rome that had many Vatican officials worried. But it was a beautiful day indeed for this very special day at the Vatican. Back to you, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Well, thank you very much, Alessio.
Stay with us for a CNN special report, "Mother Teresa: On the Road to Sainthood, and the 25th Anniversary of John Paul II's Papacy." That's ahead at 10:30 a.m. Eastern.
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 19, 2003 - 08:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: In Vatican City this morning, Pope John Paul II celebrated mass at a ceremony to beatify Mother Teresa. CNN Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci was there and joins us live with more -- Alessio.
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Hello to you, Suzanne. St. Peter's Square overflowed with pilgrims from all around the world, not just from Italy or Europe, with some flags from Albania, flags from Poland, but also pilgrims from as far as India. We understand 2,000 pilgrims from India made a trip, as well as 450 missionaries of charity funded from Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
In the hearts and minds of every Catholics around the world, indeed she may already be a saint. And today, the pope, by pronouncing her blessed, put her one step closer from official sainthood. One more miracle will have to be attributed to her before she will become a full-fledged saint.
During the ceremony, a giant portrait of Mother Teresa smiling was unveiled to the cheers of the hundreds of thousands who were in St. Peter's Square this morning. But also, some of the nuns belonging to her mission, we've seen them wiping away tears for what obviously must have been an extremely emotional moment for them during the ceremony, of course. There were also some moments where traditional music was played and there were some dances there. There was really a rare display of colors seen here in the Vatican, especially during this kind of solemn ceremony.
Again, the pope today looked somewhat frail and tired. He did not manage to read the homily that he had prepared for this very special occasion. He had two aides reading the homily for him. This has been the case in recent days and weeks during public occasions with the pope. At least before he did manage to read the opening and the end of those homilies. This time, the pope did not even attempt to read a few words.
He did, though, muster enough strength at the end of the mass, where he did preside over the communion rite. And at the end of that mass, he did take a tour of St. Peter's Square in his now famous open- deck pope mobile. This is a way for the pope to get closer to the pilgrims and to thank the hundreds of thousands who from all around the world arrived here on this beautiful day here in St. Peter's Square.
There was a furious rain over Rome that had many Vatican officials worried. But it was a beautiful day indeed for this very special day at the Vatican. Back to you, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Well, thank you very much, Alessio.
Stay with us for a CNN special report, "Mother Teresa: On the Road to Sainthood, and the 25th Anniversary of John Paul II's Papacy." That's ahead at 10:30 a.m. Eastern.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
