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CNN Saturday Morning News
Pope Pilgrimage: Pope John Paul II in Slovakia
Aired September 13, 2003 - 07:03 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: Pilgrimages are becoming more and more difficult for Pope John Paul II, so much so that each one could be his last opportunity to deliver Mass to the masses outside Italy.
The pope is in Slovakia right now, where we are joined on the phone by our Alessio Vinci -- Alessio
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on phone): Hello to you, Heidi.
Well, this pope may be old, frail, and sick, but I can certainly tell you that he still manages to draw large crowds wherever he goes.
We are on Roznava, a small town of about 20,000 in eastern Slovakia, very close to the Hungarian border. And again, tens of thousands have gathered here on a hilltop to get even just a glimpse of the pope. As you mentioned, many here in the crowd (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the last chance to see the pope. People here, not just in Slovakia, by the way, they also come from neighboring countries, including, of course, the pope's native Poland.
We continue, of course, to monitor the pope's health. This trip has been marked by ups and downs so far. Today the 83-year-old pontiff appears rested, but his voice is still weak and slurred. His left hand trembles badly.
And while the pope appeared well enough to celebrate most of the Mass today, reading all of the prayers, again, in -- as in previous public events, he -- here in Slovakia, he did not manage to read out all his homily entirely, leaving it to a church official to continue. Vatican officials, of course, insisting that this is just a precautionary measure to preserve some of his strength.
And you can imagine, this is a long, grueling trip for the pope, four day long. He flies six times and celebrates (UNINTELLIGIBLE) three open-air Masses, including one on Sunday in the capital of Bratislava, so he really needs all the strength that he can muster, Heidi.
COLLINS: Alessio Vinci reporting live from Roznava, Slovakia. Alessio, thanks so 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 September 13, 2003 - 07:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Pilgrimages are becoming more and more difficult for Pope John Paul II, so much so that each one could be his last opportunity to deliver Mass to the masses outside Italy.
The pope is in Slovakia right now, where we are joined on the phone by our Alessio Vinci -- Alessio
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on phone): Hello to you, Heidi.
Well, this pope may be old, frail, and sick, but I can certainly tell you that he still manages to draw large crowds wherever he goes.
We are on Roznava, a small town of about 20,000 in eastern Slovakia, very close to the Hungarian border. And again, tens of thousands have gathered here on a hilltop to get even just a glimpse of the pope. As you mentioned, many here in the crowd (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the last chance to see the pope. People here, not just in Slovakia, by the way, they also come from neighboring countries, including, of course, the pope's native Poland.
We continue, of course, to monitor the pope's health. This trip has been marked by ups and downs so far. Today the 83-year-old pontiff appears rested, but his voice is still weak and slurred. His left hand trembles badly.
And while the pope appeared well enough to celebrate most of the Mass today, reading all of the prayers, again, in -- as in previous public events, he -- here in Slovakia, he did not manage to read out all his homily entirely, leaving it to a church official to continue. Vatican officials, of course, insisting that this is just a precautionary measure to preserve some of his strength.
And you can imagine, this is a long, grueling trip for the pope, four day long. He flies six times and celebrates (UNINTELLIGIBLE) three open-air Masses, including one on Sunday in the capital of Bratislava, so he really needs all the strength that he can muster, Heidi.
COLLINS: Alessio Vinci reporting live from Roznava, Slovakia. Alessio, thanks so 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
