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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

Joseph Ratzinger Celebrates His First Mass as Pope; Has the Luggage Going on Your Plane Been Checked Thoroughly?

Aired April 20, 2005 - 05:00   ET

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

KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, Joseph Ratzinger celebrates his first mass as pope. New this morning, reaction to Pope Benedict XVI.
Plus, has the luggage going on your plane been checked thoroughly? We'll have a federal report on airport screening that may shock you.

And making music popular around the globe. Meet the pop group known as Il Divo.

It is Wednesday, April 20th. And this is DAYBREAK.

And good Wednesday morning to you. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Kelly Wallace, in for Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers today.

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.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has postponed a vote on President Bush's nominee to be ambassador to the U.N. Committee members want another look at allegations about John Bolton's temperament and his ways of dealing with subordinates.

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

And today is the anniversary of the nation's deadliest school shooting. It was six years ago when two students killed 16 schoolmates and a teacher before killing themselves at Columbine High School in Colorado.

Switching gears a bit, Chad Myers in Atlanta.

Good morning, Chad. Nice to see you, as always.

CHAD MYERS, CNN ANCHOR: And nice for you to be here. And I love it when you fill in, Kelly, because I know that at least you and I can talk back and forth to each other like two intelligent people. Carol and I sometimes get kind of crazy, so...

(LAUGHTER) But we feed off each other. So it's good.

WALLACE: Well, we'll see if my crazy gene will stay in check today. We'll see how it goes.

MYERS: All this news coming up across the northeast, good stuff. New York City, 61. Boston, 61, as well. Philadelphia, 58. A pleasant day even in Toronto. Temperatures in Toronto yesterday, 82. The temperature in Miami was 79. It was actually warmed way on up to the north into Ontario.

Not going to be that way today. Cool air coming down across Ontario. Still 84 in New York City. But here's the cool air in the city tomorrow. Look at this, 59.

A couple of thunderstorms across parts of the Midwest, kind of centering in here on Omaha, Nebraska. Rain showers from about Sioux City right on back down through Schuyler and even down toward Lincoln. Northern Lancaster County does have a severe thunderstorm warning on it right now. The rain continues all across the I-80. There's the warning popping up there for Lincoln.

Some heavier showers heading on up to about Norfolk, and also going to move into probably the Omaha area here probably in about two, maybe even two-and-a-half hours. But get ready for that if you're living across the Midwest, anywhere from Nebraska right on into and in parts of Michigan.

Detroit, Alpena, looks like Flint getting a couple showers this morning. And that red area right through here, the potential for severe weather, again another one in West Texas.

Kelly, back to you.

WALLACE: So, Chad, we should enjoy the warm weather here in New York City for at least today, right?

MYERS: For just today. It goes away tonight.

WALLACE: Just today, goes away. OK, Chad, talk to you in a few minutes. Thanks so much.

MYERS: You bet.

WALLACE: And to our top story on this day, the pope's first mass. Newly elevated Pope Benedict XVI worships with those who voted him into the highest office in the Roman Catholic Church. Let's go live now to the Vatican and our Rome bureau chief, Alessio Vinci.

Alessio, always good to see you. Give us a sense of the tone of the new pope's first message.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Kelly.

Well, first of all, that mass, Pope Benedict XVI's first mass as pope, was celebrated inside the Sistine Chapel, the very same room where less than 24 hours ago, cardinals from 52 countries elevated him to the papacy. And we were expecting -- at least the Vatican had told us that we had to expect a homily, delivered actually in Latin. That was replaced by a long pause for meditation.

But then, at the end of the service, Pope Benedict addressed the cardinals who were inside the Sistine Chapel, but also the people around the world, knowing full well that this message was being transmitted live through television means and radio means.

And he, first of all, said that he felt a sense of inadequacy after being selected and elected as pope. But he said also that he will work and to continue with the church's modernization effort laid out by the Second Vatican Council. He also said that he will work hard to reunify all Christians, as well as opening up a sincere and open dialogue with other religions, as well as telling cardinals that he will travel to Cologne for World Youth Day, the very important meeting of all young people around the world which will be held in Cologne, Germany, this coming summer.

It was a very reconciliatory, forward-looking message. It was nine pages long. We are not used to these kind of messages anymore. Pope John Paul II's messages, because of his failed health, used to be only a page or two at the very maximum towards the end of his papacy. This was a very comprehensive message in which Pope Benedict really addressed all major issues, or at least some of the major issues, that he clearly wants to tackle, at least at the beginning of his papacy.

So ecumenism and dialogue with other religions, as well as also looking inwards. He asked for support from the cardinals, not just here in Rome, but from the bishops around the word. The buzzword here for collegiality, less power in Rome and perhaps more power to the bishops around the world. This is something that, obviously, especially the more moderate and forward-looking Catholics in the Roman Catholic Church have been looking for.

And therefore, this certainly was -- Pope Benedict has already began his papacy by reaching to those who perhaps in the past have disagreed with him -- Kelly?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE BENEDICT XVI, LEADER OF CATHOLIC CHURCH (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I call on God for peace for the human family. And I ask all Catholics to cooperate in authentic social justice and a true dignity for the human.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VINCI: Big inauguration mass, which is expected on Sunday here in St. Peter's Square, open to all. The mass this morning was only accessible to the cardinals. The mass on Sunday, inaugurating officially Pope Benedict XVI, will be, of course, attended by tens of thousands -- expected to be tens of thousands of pilgrims, faithful Catholics, and of course, tourists from around the world here in St. Peter's Square, as well as, of course, dignitaries.

Kelly, back to you.

WALLACE: Alessio, thanks so much. We'll be checking in with you throughout the morning here on DAYBREAK. Alessio Vinci, our Rome bureau chief reporting.

Well, world leaders were quick to express optimism after hearing that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger had been selected as the new pope. Here is a sample of some of that reaction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KOFI ANNAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNITED NATIONS: I think he is a man of great experience who has worked very closely with the late pope, and I hope will be able to make the same spiritual contribution.

GERHARDT SCHROEDER, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): The new Pope Benedict XVI is German. It is a great honor for the whole country.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Laura and I offer our congratulations to Pope Benedict XVI. He's a man of great wisdom and knowledge. He's a man who serves the Lord.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Catholics here in the United States are not as quick to praise the new pontiff. In a new CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll, 31 percent of U.S. Catholics say they have a favorable opinion of Pope Benedict XVI, 9 percent have an unfavorable opinion, and 60 percent of those polled are not sure.

When asked if their commitment to the church is affected by who is pope, 42 percent of American Catholics polled "yes," 57 percent say "no." The poll has a sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Well, many Catholics rocked by recent clergy sex scandals in the church had hoped that electing a new pope might mean a new era. But as CNN's Jason Carroll reports, many fear the new pope represents the status quo.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Crowds in St. Peter's Square cheered the announcement of the new pontiff. But back in Boston, one man wondered if the accolades are premature.

BERNIE MCDADE, ABUSE VICTIM: I personally had wished that it was an outsider of Europe to have been the pontiff. It would have signaled more change, in my opinion.

CARROLL: Bernie McDade says he was sexually abused by a priest as a child, making him, according to the U.S. Catholic Church's own records, one of thousands abused by priests over the past several decades. McDade's concern now? Pope Benedict XVI is too traditional and may not be able to exact change he says is needed. MCDADE: The American people will not tolerate this situation as it stands right now. And Rome needs to know that.

CARROLL (on-screen): Managing the problem of sexual abuse by priests is just one of several challenges facing Pope Benedict XVI. For example, many American Catholics support a woman's right to choose. The new pope does not.

(voice-over): So how then does he reach out to people like Tamara Hallisey? Her daughter, Sasha (ph), who is eight, attends Catholic school. But Hallisey disagrees with the new pope's stand on reproductive issues.

TAMARA HALLISEY, CATHOLIC: And I think, at the end of the day, when you ask people privately, it's really a private issue. And that's where it should be, and not be discussed in an open political or religious forum.

CARROLL: Despite her differences, she still stays with the church. But a number of Americans are leaving. And the number of men entering the priesthood is declining.

TERRY BRIZZ, CASE WESTERN RESERVE: The new pope is 78-years-old, very conservative. So I wouldn't expect any dramatic changes in the Catholic Church moving forward.

CARROLL: But the U.S. Conference of Bishops say their new pope will mend some differences in the U.S. church.

BISHOP WILLIAM SKYLSTAD, U.S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS: Well, he's a man who, certainly for us as Catholics in the church, will be a sign of unity. In our universal church, he will continue to, I think, work for peace and reconciliation, not only within the church, but in the world, as well.

CARROLL: Many Catholics are hoping he can do just that.

Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And live pictures now of the scene in Vatican City, where we are awaiting a news conference of the American cardinals. The American cardinals, who are part of the College of Cardinals, expecting to hear their views about the new pope, Pope Benedict XVI.

Also, obviously some questions for the American cardinals about the views of American Catholics and how they feel about the new pope. We understand 11 American cardinals voted in the conclave selecting Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the 265th pope, Pope Benedict XVI.

We are expecting, again, that news conference to begin momentarily. And we will bring portions of that to you live.

"News Across America" now. Utah Governor Jon Huntsman could sign a landmark piece of legislation as early as today. Utah's legislature passed a bill putting the state's education standards ahead of federal guidelines. The move could cost Utah up to $76 million in funding from the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

The legislation pushed for by Jessica Lunsford's father may be closer to final approval. The Florida house passed a bill that called for 25-year minimum sentences for some convicted child molesters. Released offenders would also face lifetime monitoring. Past offenders have confessed to two killings in just the past month. The Florida senate is expected to debate the bill today.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger 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 border should be closed.

Time now for a CNN security watch. An upcoming report on airport safety says private screeners are more effective than their federalized counterparts. Another investigation found that old technology may be to blame for several security failures.

More now from CNN homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Two-and-a-half years after airport screeners were federalized, there appears to be little improvement in their performance.

CLARK KENT ERVIN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: It's absolutely not acceptable.

MESERVE: Undercover testers tried, apparently with some success, to get weapons through security checkpoints on their bodies or in their carry-ons. They also checked baggage contaminated with explosive residue to see if it would be detected.

A declassified report from the Department of Homeland Security inspector general concludes there has been a lack of improvement since an audit nearly two years ago.

ERVIN: We have spent millions of dollars -- arguably billions of dollars -- since 9/11 to make aviation security as a whole much safer. And we have relatively little to show for it, as far as the performance of screeners is concerned.

MESERVE: Outdated technology is a big reason for the poor performance, according to one screener and union leader.

JUSTIN ROONEY, AIRPORT SCREENER: With the technology that we have, we can only do so much. You have 2005 screeners using 1980's equipment.

MESERVE: The inspector general's report, and the Transportation Security Administration, which runs the screening program, have reached the same conclusion.

MARK HATFIELD, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION: We recognize that there are limitations in the technology, which is why we have $174 million this year dedicated to research and development.

MESERVE: In addition, the TSA is spending $30 million this year to put 147 explosive-detection portals at 40 airports that serve 80 percent of the flying public.

According to a member of Congress, another report due out Friday will show that private screeners perform better than federal screeners.

REP. JOHN MICA (R), FLORIDA: If you get this result, not once but twice, and then you get commentary like this, and you fail to make changes, you've done a great injustice to not only the traveling public's safety and security but to the country's economic future.

MESERVE (on-screen): Mica's solution? Replace federal screeners with private ones. Though Tuesday's inspector general's report noted that the majority of federal screeners work hard and are fully aware of their importance to aviation security.

Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: So, Chad, what do you think, all these problems, screeners not really doing any better job than a couple of years ago?

MYERS: Well, with the same technology -- I mean, you know, part of the problem, too.

And our e-mail "Question of the Day" has something to do with that. "Do you feel safer flying now than you did before 9/11?" Before 9/11, you didn't know there were the problems. Now with all these investigations, now you do know there are problems. Do you feel safer now or safer before you knew all that stuff? Daybreak@cnn.com, e-mail us your opinions, please -- Kelly?

WALLACE: All right, Chad. Look forward to hearing all the e- mails this morning.

And of course, be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security. Well, it seems like every week we are telling you about some new case of credit card fraud. One company has put their foot into a major case of identity theft. We'll tell you if you are at risk.

And you think your morning coffee rocks? We'll give you the secrets from the best baristas. And we'll meet a teacher who's getting kids fired up about math and science.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: The international markets are all looking brighter this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei is up nearly 23 points. The London FTSE is up 4. And the German DAX is higher by 12.

Your news, money, weather and sports -- it's just about 20 minutes after the hour. And here's what is all new this morning.

Newly elected Pope Benedict XVI held his first papal mass this morning. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was chosen pope after two days of voting by the College of Cardinals.

Amtrak's Acela trains are being parked indefinitely. The company that makes the high-speed trains doesn't have enough replacement parts to fix the damaged brakes. It is unknown how long it will take to fix all 20 Acela trains.

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

In culture, 13 films have been chosen to compete for the top spot at the Cannes Film Festival. Among the competing directors will be Jim Jarmusch, Gus Van Sant, and Tommy Lee Jones. The festival begins May 11th.

In sports, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers kept their playoff hopes alive with a win over the Boston Celtics. But to advance, the Cavs still need to win their final game and have the New Jersey Nets lose.

Chad, are you a big professional basketball fan? Are you watching these games?

MYERS: You know, I think basketball season is 15 months.

WALLACE: Never-ending.

MYERS: It just goes on, and on, and on, and on, and on. It's like hockey. They're playing hockey in July.

WALLACE: It seems like the NBA playoffs never end. That's for sure.

MYERS: Exactly.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Kelly?

WALLACE: Snow in April?

MYERS: Yes.

WALLACE: All right. It happens. Thanks, Chad. Talk to you in a few minutes.

Another week, another word of a major identity theft. DSW Shoe Warehouse stores say thieves accessed the company's database and made off with not the Manolo Blahniks but the credit card numbers of nearly 1.5 million customers.

CNN's Christine Romans looks at how this keeps on happening.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As DSW customers have learned, your personal information is available for the picking by identity thieves.

BETSY BRODER, FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION: We know that there are criminals out there and that this information is a real honey-pot for them. With your Social Security number, date of birth, and name, they can open up new accounts in your name. They can drain your existing accounts.

ROMANS: Your data is available from insecure databases of information brokers and from retailers like DSW. In fact, it is probably held in thousands of databases all over the world.

LINDA FOLEY, IDENTITY THEFT RESOURCE CENTER: The reality is that most of our information is in the hands of the business world. That's the main repository of our information.

ROMANS: And the business world is having a hard time holding on to it. Ameritrade says it may have lost account information for 200,000 people when a tape full of backup data disappeared.

From LexisNexis, thieves stole names, addresses, Social Security, and driver's license numbers of 310,000 Americans. In February, at ChoicePoint, thieves used fake businesses to buy personal information of 145,000 people.

The Federal Trade Commission says almost 10 million Americans are the victim of such theft every year, spending almost 300 million hours sorting it out at a cost to the victims and to business of almost $50 billion.

It's staggering. And as more businesses rely on digital information and send it overseas, security experts expect more breaches ahead. JEFF MOSS, BLACK HAT INC.: If it's cheaper and faster to outsource this information to data centers in India or China, that's what they do. And if the people who are in charge of this outsourcing don't know enough to ask for a review of security procedures, then that means all of us are at a greater risk.

ROMANS (on-screen): You can protect yourself by making sure you don't carry your Social Security card with you and you lock your mailbox. But beyond that, most of your personal sensitive data is already out of your hands.

Christine Romans, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: Important information there to keep in mind.

Still to come on this Wednesday, something to percolate your morning taste buds. Coffee makers around the world compete for top honors.

And they may not fly, but these little piggies will run, jump and swim to the finish line.

You're watching DAYBREAK for Wednesday, April 20th. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: So, Chad, were you watching when we saw the first signs of white smoke at noon yesterday?

MYERS: You know, I missed it.

WALLACE: You missed it?

MYERS: I was at the doctor's office for a bad back. And they came in to go, "Hey, we've got a German pope." I'm like, "Ratzinger?"

WALLACE: Yes, you know, we were watching it...

MYERS: Of course.

WALLACE: ... and as we waited on the smoke, was it white or black, and then the bells, we knew this was going to be great material for the late-night comics.

MYERS: Certainly, these guys.

WALLACE: And no surprise it was. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, HOST, "THE TONIGHT SHOW": Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany now the most powerful Catholic in the world. Well, if you don't count Mel Gibson, yes, really. You know, it's interesting. When I heard the new pope was German, I thought, "Oh my god. Arnold can't be stopped. First governor, now he is pope. I can't believe it. I can't believe that. It's amazing."

JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": Pope John Paul II's long- time adviser stood adorned with papal vestments and crowned with the pope's signature white skullcap. And as he stood there before the adoring multitudes, it was then that he realized this is how Bono must feel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Think he was thinking of Bono as he looked at thousands of people in St. Peter's Square?

MYERS: I don't know. Did he call it the "white smoke hat"?

WALLACE: He did. He's so funny.

I thought they were going to make a little more of the drama, the smoke and the bells, but they cut to the chase.

MYERS: Well, the drama in the morning, though, was we couldn't tell if it was white, grey, or black, right? So...

WALLACE: Exactly, and you had all these commentators saying, "Does it look black? Does it look grey?" I thought that was so funny.

MYERS: It was.

WALLACE: All right, Chad.

Well, time now for our DAYBREAK eye-opener. Where else but in Seattle would they hold the world's barista championships? Coffee makers from all over the world competed for the king of coffee crown. And that title was taken by a Danish barista who says his secret was using milk he brought with him from Copenhagen.

Now, what does this look like to you? For some people in Chicago, it looks like the Virgin Mary has appeared on a wall near the expressway. People took pictures and lit candles around the image, they are now calling "Our Lady of the Underpass."

And it is not quite running of the bulls, but in England, they enjoy watching the sheep races. Needless to say, sheep racing was invented after a night of drinking.

MYERS: "Sheeple-chasing."

WALLACE: Yes, exactly.

Anyway, the steep in and their knitted jockeys trot around the course in search of the food trough. The winner gets an extra portion of whatever it is that sheep eat. What do they eat, Chad?

MYERS: Sheep food.

WALLACE: Sheep food, that's good.

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