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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

Pope Celebrates First Mass; 'Business Buzz'; Columbine, Six Years Later

Aired April 20, 2005 - 06:29   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Good Wednesday morning to you. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Kelly Wallace, in today for Carol Costello.
Here are some stories "Now in the News."

A historic day. Pope Benedict XVI celebrates his first Mass as leader of the Roman Catholic Church and its one billion followers. He expressed feelings of both inadequacy and profound gratitude, and asked for prayers.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Russia, talking about the state of democracy and urging President Putin not to run for a third term. The secretary is preparing for President Bush's visit to Russia next month.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: So, when we have these discussions, they're not in an accusatory way. They're not through a sense of criticism. But rather, to try and talk about why democratic progress is so linked to Russia's future development, as well as to the development of U.S.-Russian relations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: News about Michael Jackson. He says he thinks his child molestation trial is -- to use his words -- "going well." He made the command after the fifth day of testimony by the mother of the boy accusing him of abuse.

And a late spring storm dumped up to 9 inches of snow and a barrage of hail in the Sierra Nevadas. Interstate 80 near Reno had to be shut down for a little while. Ski resorts in the area are happy. But you have to have chains or snow tires to get anywhere near the slopes.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WALLACE: And to our top story, today marking the first Mass for new Pope Benedict XVI. The incoming pontiff outlined the goals for his papacy less than 24 hours after being elected by the College of Cardinals.

For more on the first Mass and message, we turn to our Rome bureau chief, Alessio Vinci, at the Vatican. Good morning -- Alessio.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning to you, Kelly.

Yes, that Mass was, in fact, celebrated in the very same chapel, where the night before Cardinal Ratzinger was elevated -- excuse me -- to Pope Benedict XVI. That Mass started earlier in the morning.

We were expecting at some point a homily in Latin. That was at least what we were told the Mass proceeding would be, but that homily was replaced instead by a long pause of meditation, this Mass during which the cardinals primarily sang the "Holy Spirit" for the -- or its intercession, if you want, in the election of the pope.

And then eventually, at the end of the service, Pope Benedict XVI delivered a -- laid out, you know, many of the goals of his papacy, including the unification of all Christians, continuing the reforms laid out in the Vatican Council -- in the second Vatican Council, and reaching out to people of other faiths, as well as, of course, other Christian denominations, especially those of Eastern churches.

Pope Benedict XVI also said himself he felt a sense of inadequacy when he was given the job. At the same time he also reached out to not just people outside the Catholic Church, but from the people from within the Catholic Church, especially the bishops all around world, asking them to pray and to support him, a way, perhaps, for him to say, I'm here to listen to you, please lead me into you as well.

Eventually, the pope also said that he will be traveling to Cologne later this August to attend a World Youth Day. This is a very important meeting of all of the young people around the world in Cologne, Germany. This is something at Pope John Paul II had instituted, and this is perhaps the clearest indication about how this pope, although very different in some ways from Pope John Paul II, will continue, at least at the beginning, to travel -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Alessio, interesting times. Alessio Vinci, our Rome bureau chief reporting. And you can see Alessio, of course, on "AMERICAN MORNING" coming up in just about 20 minutes from now.

In the new pope's homeland of Germany, there is pride about a native son's achievement. One tabloid newspaper boasted, "We are the Pope," from its cover. The newsstands are crowed with other papers, offering similar sentiments.

Another headline reads -- quote -- "A Bavarian is Pope."

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said, the choice is -- quote -- "a great honor for the whole country."

Catholics here in the United States are talking about the new pope as well. In a CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll taken just hours after Pope Benedict XVI was chosen, 31 percent said they have a favorable opinion of the new pope, 9 percent say they have an unfavorable view, and 60 percent say they don't know enough about him yet. Thirty-nine percent of those polled said Pope Benedict will move the Catholic Church in the right direction, 13 percent had the opposite opinion, and 48 percent said they're not sure.

From solemn ceremony to a selling frenzy. Check out these items we found up for bids on eBay. Everybody needs a Pope Benedict XVI stainless steel travel mug, right? Well, how about a mock street sign with the new pontiff's name? Or maybe you'd prefer a wristwatch with a picture of the cardinal before he became pope. Last time our colleagues checked, that street sign was going for about 20 bucks, but no bids yet. We'll keep you posted.

WALLACE: Well, only 115 men really know what went on behind the scenes to elect the new pope for one-and-a-half billion Catholics. CNN's Bill Hemmer will get a chance to speak to a cardinal who cast one of those votes yesterday.

Good morning, Bill. That should be an interesting interview.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. Hey, Kelly, good morning to you.

I wonder if he's going to tell us anything. They have this vow of secrecy, too, going through this.

WALLACE: Yes.

HEMMER: So, good morning to you, by the way. You know, so many American Catholics, too, are just getting to know this man, too, just like the rest of the world. We'll talk with Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles today. He said some things, Kelly, before the vote that let many to think that he was opposed to Cardinal Ratzinger becoming pope. What's his reaction today, and how will he address issues here in the American Catholic Church? We'll talk about that.

Also from the White House, President Bush is calling on Congress to pass this energy bill. He says Americans are feeling the pinch from rising gas prices. Critics say the bill proposed does not address the recent surge. We'll talk with the presidential counsel, Dan Bartlett, about that topic.

Also this topic about John Bolton yesterday, you know, Kelly. George Voinovich, the Republican senator, saying that we're going to hold off on this vote for U.N. ambassador for a few weeks, too. So, a lot to discuss this morning with Dan Bartlett.

See you at the top of the hour, OK, Kelly?

WALLACE: Lots to talk about.

HEMMER: Yes.

WALLACE: And, of course, Carol Costello is joining you.

HEMMER: Yes, she will be sitting to my left.

WALLACE: Yes, making sure all DAYBREAK fans know to stick around and continue with "AMERICAN MORNING" to see Carol. OK, Bill, we'll check in with you about 20 minutes from now.

HEMMER: See you, Kelly. All right.

WALLACE: Thanks so much.

And in other news this morning, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is taking his side of the story to his supporters. He sent a six-page letter to his constituents, defending himself against charges that he acted improperly in dealings with lobbyists and in accepting overseas trips. He attributes recent attacks on his record to Democrats and -- quote -- "Democrat-friendly members of the press."

DeLay is also taking up another hot-button issue, criticizing the federal courts and, in particular, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

REP. TOM DELAY (R-TX), HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: We've got Justice Kennedy writing decisions based upon international law, not the Constitution of the United States. That's just outrageous.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

DELAY: And not only that, but he said in session that he does his own research on the Internet. That is just incredibly outrageous.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WALLACE: Congressman DeLay has been openly critical of the federal courts since they refused to order Terri Schiavo's feeding tube reinserted.

News about California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He thinks the country's immigration policies are wimpy. During a speech to a group of newspaper publishers, the governor said the border policies are lax.

He then offered this suggestion:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: Close the borders. Close the borders in California and all across -- between Mexico and the United States, because I think it is just unfair to have all of those people coming across.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: After the speech, Schwarzenegger's spokeswoman said the governor wants greater security, but didn't really mean that the borders should be closed.

Coming up here on Wednesday's edition of DAYBREAK, a routine trip to the ballpark is just the start of a rollercoaster of legal problems for a couple of fans, thanks to the Sheffield scuffle. We'll explain just ahead.

And changes for the colonel. A restaurant goes retro in order to spiff up its look for the future. It's hard to say that this morning.

Here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: The international markets are mixed this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei is up nearly 23 points, the London FTSE down 7.5, and the German DAX is up almost 9.

It's time now for a little "Business Buzz." A familiar name but a different look for one fast food chicken chain. There are changes at KFC.

Carrie Lee is here to tell us what is going on.

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: We're talking about KFC, Kelly.

WALLACE: Yes.

LEE: And they are making some changes. First of all, they're opening a new store in Louisville, Kentucky, in addition to 50 other stores. And among some of these changes, the name Kentucky Fried Chicken is coming back, as you can see on the outside of the store.

As for the interior, there's going to be some new furniture, low tables instead of those hard, plastic benches. You can sit on a cushy ottoman instead. And in a nod to the digital age, each new restaurant is going to have a digital jukebox. The music it holds will be determined by the area the store is in. So, for example, in Kentucky, there will be country music, and in other areas, like, say, New York, maybe hip-hop.

And Colonel Sanders is getting a slight facelift. They added some more color to his picture. It looks kind of Warhol-esque (ph), you can see. And they gave him an apron. I guess his clothes were all getting dirty.

And they're also adding some new menu items, trying to bring back the southern feel. Collard greens, candied yams are among the new offerings.

So, changes are under way.

WALLACE: Any botox?

(CROSSTALK)

LEE: They're not saying.

WALLACE: They're not saying.

LEE: We can't ask questions like that.

WALLACE: Yes, exactly.

LEE: I'm just kidding.

WALLACE: I know. Well, a look ahead to the markets. How are futures looking this Wednesday?

LEE: Futures are looking up a bit. In fact, the Dow, all of the major market indices saw some gains yesterday after the worst week for stocks in quite some time. Intel, it was a nice gainer last night. That's lifting tech futures this morning. They're raising some of their profit margins, a sign that chip demand is solid. So, Intel gained about 3.5 percent last night. That's going to be a big stock to watch today.

WALLACE: Tough times. Are people nervous on the markets right now?

LEE: I think people are nervous. We're also going to get an inflation rating today, CPI, Consumer Price Index, the prices you and I pay for goods and services. You know, inflation, that buzz word, because the higher prices go, the greater the change Alan Greenspan and company are going to keep raising interest rates.

WALLACE: And then what that means in terms of buying a home, a car, everything.

LEE: That's right. It all trickles right on down, exactly.

WALLACE: Exactly. Carrie Lee, it's always great to see you.

LEE: Thank you. You too.

WALLACE: Thanks so much.

Coming up ahead on DAYBREAK, is it the classic mountain out of a molehill story, or did someone cross the line? We will tell you what baseball and the city of Boston are saying about last week's scuffle at Fenway Park.

We're back in a moment. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: And welcome back. Your news, money, weather and sports. It is just about 45 minutes after the hour. And here is what is all new this morning.

Newly-elected Pope Benedict XVI held his first papal Mass this morning. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger will be officially installed on Sunday.

In money news, America West and US Airways are in serious discussions about a possible merger. Any deal would be good news for US Airways, which has already filed for bankruptcy twice.

In culture, Ashton Kutcher may return to underwear modeling. That's right. He made a bet that if his new movie is number one this weekend, he'll do a Calvin Klein ad campaign. That is how Kutcher started his career.

In sports, the New York Mets played long ball against the Philadelphia Phillies. They hit a team record seven home runs on their way to a 16-4 romp.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WALLACE: Sticking with baseball now, though. Police in Boston are taking matters into their own hands, and that means the Sheffield scuffle isn't going away anytime soon. Police have filed misdemeanor criminal charges against two fans, one for making contact with Yankee outfielder Gary Scheffield and the other for allegedly tossing a beer during a game last week at Fenway Park.

Scheffield says he's not sure if he'll press charges, but it is possible he'll face disciplinary action by the commissioner's office for taking his own swing at at least one of those fans.

Well, the Yankees aren't the only ones who know a little something about winning -- or rather losing lately, we should say. But one of the kings of the business world will share some of his strategy about winning with CNN's Carol Costello coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."

Carol, it sounds like a very interesting interview you have coming up.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is indeed. We're going to be talking to former GE executive Jack Welch. He's the author of a new book. It's called "Winning." It outlines his strategy for succeeding in business and life. He's gone though life-changing events lately -- a heart attack, a high-profile nasty divorce. He started going to church regularly, though. And we'll ask him how that's affected his outlook on life.

Also, what's in a name? We'll talk to a city council candidate from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, named Rick James. You know, that's not him. That's the real Rick James, and that's the problem. So, Rick James from -- anyway, he says that name recognition is important for, you know, being on the ballot, but he's losing money because of it. His campaign signs are being stolen because of a sketch on Comedy Central's popular "Chappelle" show.

I don't know if you've ever seen it, Kelly, but Dave Chappelle does this insanely funny imitation of Rick James. And evidently, that's making it very hard for the Rick James from Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

WALLACE: I would think just that video in and of itself would make things hard for the Rick James of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. You can talk to him about that. COSTELLO: We will indeed.

WALLACE: All right, Carol. Everyone misses you here. We will see you in a few minutes on "AMERICAN MORNING." Thanks so much.

COSTELLO: Thanks.

WALLACE: Still to come here on DAYBREAK, now you see it, now you don't. The case of the disappearing violin. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: It is 51 minutes after the hour, and here is what will be making news today.

Legislators in Utah are taking over control of the No Child Left Behind program. They've introduced a bill that gives state standards priority over federal ones imposed by President Bush's program. Other states say the federal program pushes mandates but does not provide enough money to pay for changes.

A violin made in 1742 worth nearly a million dollars was stolen out of a car in California. The 20-year-old musician was borrowing the instrument and left it in her car for 10 minutes when it was stolen.

And 31-year-old Jason Camerus (ph) is this year's National Teacher of the Year. He is a math teacher in Washington, D.C., and he will meet with President Bush at a White House ceremony this morning.

As we have mentioned today, today marks the sixth anniversary of the Columbine High School in Colorado. Craig Scott was a student in the middle of the mayhem. He lost his sister and two friends that tragic day.

CNN journalist Brian Kosisky (ph) recently spoke with Scott, who now works to turn that terrifying experience into something positive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CRAIG SCOTT, COLUMBINE SURVIVOR: I think that there were a lot of fingers being pointed after Columbine happened at a lot of different things. The biggest blame lied with the two shooters themselves.

The library was the first room the two shooters entered. They came over to where I was sitting, and I saw my friend, Isaiah, and Isaiah was so scared. And the last thing that he heard in his life was racial slurs being made against him. And the last thing that he said was, "I want to see my mom."

After the two shooters killed Matt and Isaiah next to me, and then left the library, I heard a voice telling me to get out there. And I yelled at everybody, I said, 'Come on, let's get out of here. I think they're gone.' And I had asked somebody, I said, 'Do you have a friend, or do you have a brother or a sister that's in school that I can pray for?' And all along, I had this feeling like something wasn't right with my sister, Rachel.

They came up and began to mock her for her Christian beliefs. Her final moment was when Eric picker her up by her hair and asked her, "Do you still believe in God?" And she said, "Yes, I do." He said, "Well, go be with him."

I'm going to Colorado Film Institute. I'm studying film and video. The shooters at Columbine were really influenced by violence through the media. They dwelled on it. And so, I have an interest in making things that will be just as entertaining, yet they'll reinforce positive values.

And this last spring, I got to work on a movie which was called "End of Spear." And it will be in theaters in 2006. It was in the jungles of Panama. And on the set, I was an assistant to the producer, but I also got to be a stunt man. I also travel, and I speak in high schools for a program called Rachel's Challenge, for my dad's program. Kids need to know that their choices, their actions on others have an effect. They need to know that they matter. They need to know that they have worth.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Kelly, we didn't have time for questions yesterday, so no answers this morning. But we do have questions for you for tomorrow.

Here are your two questions. What two airlines are in advanced merger talks? And what fast food restaurant is going retro?

Get your answers in to CNN.com/daybreak. They'll be on the bottom of your screen there. Get them in. Give me your address as well.

We'll announce a winner tomorrow.

WALLACE: And the winner gets the mug, right, Chad?

MYERS: That's right.

WALLACE: All right. Here are some other stores "Now in the News."

Pope Benedict XVI has said his first Mass as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The pontiff celebrated Mass this morning in the Sistine Chapel where, less than day before, the College of Cardinals elected him pope.

The only person in the United States charged in the September 11 attacks has a hearing today. A judge wants to determine if Zacarias Moussaoui is mentally competent to plead guilty.

Today is the anniversary of the nation's deadliest school shooting. t was six years ago today when two students killed 12 schoolmates and a teacher before killing themselves at Columbine High School in Colorado.

The same congressional panel that investigated steroid use in Major League Baseball now wants to grill the NFL. The committee wants to know more about how football players are tested and which drugs they're tested for.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WALLACE: From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Kelly Wallace, in today for Carol Costello. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

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