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CNN Live Sunday

Pope Speaks out Publicly on Sex Scandals Within the Church

Aired July 28, 2002 - 18:31   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Pope John Paul II spoke publicly for the first time today about the sex scandal that's plagued the Catholic church. A massive crowd at the World Youth Day Conference in Toronto responded to his message by chanted, "John Paul II, we love you!"

And our Jim Bittermann is there watching it all -- Jim.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, the pope is resting right now in preparation for the rest of his days -- four more days of travel that will take him to Guatemala and Mexico City before returning home to Rome on Friday.

However, this morning he surprised even some of his own clergymen with his remarks during a homily at the Papal mass.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BITTERMANN: For most of these World Youth Days, American bishops and priests have tried to keep the focus away from the sexual abuse scandals in the U.S.

But to the surprise of some, Pope John Paul II took up the matter directly. At an outdoor mass for hundreds of thousands, the Pope, for the first time since the crisis broke earlier this year, publicly told young people about his sense of sadness and shame over it.

"Do not be discouraged," the Pope said, "by the failings of some members of the church." And then he added with special emphasis ...

POPE JOHN PAUL II: But, think of the vast majority of dedicated and generous priests whose only wish is to serve and do good.

(APPLAUSE)

BITTERMANN: Several young people in the crowd were happy the Pope addressed the subject.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now, when there (ph), said all over the world or to all kinds of people, it can get very big what he says then, that he really condemns it in public.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he did a good job. And I think that, what he said, it made a lot of sense to me. BITTERMANN: The papal mass came after an all-night vigil, during which the Pope reminded young people, the 21st century started with the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Christ, and the anger and hatred of the September 11th attacks.

"God has entrusted you," John Paul said, "in the building of the civilization of love."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BITTERMANN: By raising both the September 11 attacks and the church sex abuse scandal, the Pope touched on two issues that American Catholics were hoping he would mention, references which perhaps do not satisfy everybody, but at least did show that the Vatican was concerned about the issues -- Carol.

LIN: Jim, it's been front-page news today that the Pope's frailty, his condition right now is really what is defining his papacy at this moment, but he shows no sign or inclination to step down.

BITTERMANN: Absolutely not. In fact, before this trip, the Pope made it very clear back in June to an Italian reporter, that he was not going to stop traveling, he was not going to step down. He was going to continue forward just as long as he could.

The fact is that on this trip so far, he has actually looked very good compared to previous trips.

In Bulgaria, for instance, where he was back in May, there was really some very serious doubt about whether he could continue. He looked very frail. He had difficulty with his speeches.

On this trip he's been performing quite strongly. There was even a suggestion in some of the Toronto media that perhaps there was some magical mix of drugs that the people in the Vatican had been giving him.

In fact, the Vatican spokesman went so far as to deny that. He said it was the usual medication.

So the Pope has basically been performing fairly well on this trip, and he's made it very clear he's going to continue traveling. There's a trip scheduled for the Philippines, for instance, in January. It's not quite inked in yet, but at least planning it -- Carol.

LIN: Remarkable. And meanwhile, he moves on to Latin America -- Guatemala tomorrow.

Thank you very much. Jim Bittermann reporting live in Toronto.

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