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tv   MSNBC Live  MSNBC  September 23, 2015 1:00pm-2:01pm PDT

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crowds when the pope comes to new york. we have, at the same time, the u.n. general assembly. everyone's been -- been warned to expect massive closures. and then the third prong, philadelphia, open-air space, good weather predicted, well over 1 million people predicted, that's what makes this the largest national security convenient, am i right, in the history of the nation? >> oh, without question. this is just such a huge undertaking for securities this multinational team, a mixture there next to the pope mow bell of u.s. and vatican city security. by the way, the plate on the front of the mope mobile says scv-1. scc stands for, as you know in latin, vatican city state one, it would be like having a license plate that says u.s. 1. and every car he gets into has that plate, little fiat has the same thing. but that is the security challenge, a huge turnout. now, this crowd is a little different from the one this morning because these are all
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ticketholders, 25,000 people who either attend the mass or are in this crowd, it is a little different than the one this morning now on the national mall where people just had to show up and be screened. these folks have been screened, too, but a little different because they are all ticketholders. brian, i can't resist my other line of work covering the supreme court there are three justices out there somewhere, chief justice john roberts, anthony kennedy and sonia sotomayor, three of the court's six catholics, the others being clarence thomas, samuel alito. >> thanks, pete, for thinking i would know latin, absolutely incorrect. you join us in recognizing the harrowing nature of these pictures with the open sides of the vehicle. i get that this crowd is likely in the parlance of security to have been maged, that is passed
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through magnatometers, still this is a harrowing business. >> it is. and not to -- not to be too graphic about it, but the security people are worried about the obvious things, they are worried about terrorism, they are worried about isis, talking about the pope. they are worried about other terror groups. they are worried about the mafia. they are worried about right-wing extremists, white supremacists, anti-catholic activists, all of whom, they say privately, have expressed varying levels of attacking either this pope or any pope. some of these threats have existed since the beginning of his papacy, others emerged in recent months but they are well aware of the constant threat and that's why the security is so massive, so -- such a huge turnout of people and equipment in all three of these cities. >> as we watch the official greetings, as we listen to the
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bells peal, anne thompson is there already and feel the excitement welling up in the crowd around her. anne? >> reporter: brian, just been incredible. i mean, people here, it was great to -- they started watching the popemobile around catholic u on the jumbo screen -- jumbotron here and then when he came into view, as i said, it was just like an audio wave that swept over campus. and everybody had their smartphones out, trying to grab that picture. we saw people run to try to follow the popemobile, he turned around and came back so they got a second view, which was really special. one of the things i have noticed, the difference between the crowds in the u.s. and i think this has to do with security and the crowds, for example, in south america or in korea or the philippines, where we have traveled with him, is that usually people throw things at the popemobile and the pope. when we were in ecuador, they were throwing flower petals as a sign of welcome.
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in rio, they were throwing argentine flags and the san lorenzo soccer jerseys, which is his favorite soccer team in buenos aires and beach balls. nobody's thrown a thing here in america. i mean, when we were in rio, the popemobile looked like a basketball hoop for part of the time, with people just tossing stuff in. we haven't seen any of that today. and i think that's sign of just how tight security is at these events. >> anne, it was that trip you were on in rio that really concerned us, watching the overhead shots, where people were almost swamping, almost overwhelming his vehicle. >> it is true, brian, the only person in that motorcade who wasn't concerned about it was pope francis. he loves that. i mean this is a man who they will often -- the crowds will bring up a bowl of mate, an argentinian tea, he takes it right out of a stranger's hand and takes a sip of it. you can imagine what that makes the secret service -- the idea
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of that would make the secret service head spin. but he believes that, you know, god is his protector and that he will be fine. and god will take care of him and when if something bad happens to him, he says i just hope it isn't painful, because i don't like pain. but he has great faith in the ultimate protector, as he would put it, and that makes it tough on his security staff. but his vatican security staff has gotten used to it after two and a half years. they know that's going to want to go into the crowd. they know he wants to touch people. and we saw some of that today. i think the scenes at the nunciature, before he went to the white house, he walked lining up the fence and took self-business it catholic school students, shook hands, one man who lunged over the fence and hugged him. that's the kind of thing that he really enjoys and i can tell you those events will mean as much to him, that kind of interaction will mean as much to him, if not
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more, than events like speaking to congress or going to the white house for that beautiful pageant and elaborate ceremony-at south lawn this morning. >> anne, we just heard the wave of excitement as he entered the interior of the basilica. the seating we have seen outside is all overflow, correct, where people are going to be watching on big screens? >> reporter: no, this is -- where we are, where i am, brian, i am standing in front of the altar, this mass is actually going to take place outside. he has a -- there is a large, like, canopy here. he is -- as you see, he is walking into the basilica, but the mass will be held out here and 1,000 priests, we are told, will begin celebrating the mass with the pope. that's quite an honor for any priest and they come from all over the country to do so. archbishop gomez is here from los angeles, father john jacobs,
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the president of north dame, he is here. it is really a great moment for them as well. >> just look at the scene. >> he is walking down the center aisle of the pass sill sick bas think he will take a moment to go into the blessed sacrament chapel before he goes outside where anne is. >> look at the scene. >> the soon-to-be saint is represented in this building in the great upper you are charge much, where he is represented in the stained glass there and said he is going to vest in the east portico, where there's a mosaic there of serra as well. >> the outstretched hands, batted away occasionally by security before they can get through through. the nuns.
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>> professor, tell us what is going on in here? >> he is praying. he is getting ready to celebrate his first mass here, so it will be a moment of quiet reflections. >> still inside.
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we are prevented by camera angle from seeing him specifically and then we are going to have a roar when he is visible. >> this building was approved in 1913 when catholics wanted a space in washington, d.c. and think now, the space that catholics occupy in washington, d.c. on the supreme court and congress. >> that's right. >> composing himself. saying a prayer. the first task and the last task of each day of his life, he rise just after 4 a.m. most mornings, begins the day by praying. >> he told bishops today the
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most important thing they can do is pray. >> also strikes me, the kind of day that makes us thankful for high definition television it is so strikingly beautiful. >> stunning. he should be walking out to the east portico now, but is where that crowd is. i'm told that he was given, by president obama, a key to mother elizabeth ann seton's house, the first american-born canonized same and there are statues of
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elizabeth ann seton as well as francis cabrini here in the hall of the basilica. >> professor, others have said that's close to embarrassment at the regal parts of his role, that he -- he -- he is not at all a regal man. he is a very, very modest man. and but as pope as the living figure, there is a lot of ceremony that he is -- >> he understands that.
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it may not be what he prefers to do, but he also understands the power of his office, the role he represents and that ceremony is important. that's an understatement when it comes to the catholic church. and what's happening now is very symbolic, it's a part of what it means to be catholic and so, yes, he can be ceremonial when he needs to be ceremonial. >>? a giant, sprawling structure in northeast washington. as you come in by plane, it's just about the highest point you can see in the district of columbia. very much well worth a visit, as is the entire campus of the catholic university of america. trinity college across the street, kind of an academic and religious row in that part of town. beautiful architecture. soaring tower.
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soaring dome. and it's about to become just about the most exciting place on earth for -- for catholics and really, the culmination, this canonization today of an inspiring story, a controversial story. for the folks just joining in, we are talking to kate snow, we have anne thompson on scene and associate professor, kathleen sprows cummings of notre dame. kathleen, remind us the brief portrait of the saint he will canonize today. >> junipiro serra was born on mallorca in 1113 he founded nine missions in california. he died in 1784.
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what will happen today, the church will not make him a saint, it will affirm that's a saint, that's already in heaven and has been since the moment of his death. it gives the catholic church a new holy hero but the people in this country a particular ally, that will inspire them and be someone they can ask for intersession. >> anne thompson, looking at the long walk down the center aisle again. you're outside. tell me what the crowd can see and what they know of his location. he obviously is no, sir visible to them yet. >> no, they still have their eyes fixed on that jumbotron, brian, which is smoke the same picture you are looking at. but i was really stunned, when the pope went to prayer, a pretty noisy crowd all afternoon and when he went to pray, they went absolutely silent. i mean, he hasn't even been out here and he already has them in
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the palm of his hand. the other thing i think about today as we get ready to see this mass is what a great day this is for hispanic-americans, for two reasons. you have father serra, who was a spanish priest being affirmed a saint and then you have the first pope from latin america, who is celebrating father serra today. what a great moment that is for the latinos in the catholic church, who make up about 40% of today's u.s. church and you hear spanish being spoken everywhere you go today. they are out. they are proud. and they are extraordinarily proud to be associated with pope francis francis. for all the gifts that high definition television gives us, it sometimes fails to show the scope of the crowd. there's no way it can show the hours and miles traveled to be part of it, to catch a glimpse, to just feel the energy from the gathering and we will see it in
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washington. we will see it here in new york. and we will see it in a big way in philadelphia. >> yeah, and that's what people -- i was out at notre dame and st. ignacious college prep in chicago talking to young people and notre dame is sending nine busloads of kid, 500 kids who are going to go to philadelphia, st. ignacious is sending some high school students who will go to philadelphia and they said, look, we hope we get to see the pope but what we really want to be, what we want to do is be with other people who feel just like us. we want to be part of the community. we want to be part of a catholic community. and for those young people, in particular, they said we want to show that we are the church of today and tomorrow and even though there is this huge able gap between this 78-year-old pope and kids who range from 15 to 23, they feel connected to him because they say he is authentic. he speaks the truth. and they love that authenticity and they just -- even though he
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doesn't use a computer, doesn't have a tab let, has never touched an iphone, he does have a twitter account, but somebody else does that for him, but it is -- they still feel connected to him and for that basic thing, because they believe he is genuine. >> and kate snow, as we look at it there, the -- most of the people there are going to be looking on the big screens. think of it, we just -- we are looking at the altar through our high-powered lenses. the average visitor there is a long way from seeing him. >> something like 23,000 people they were expecting in that area outside. so, yeah, but as anne just said, i don't think it matters to any of those folks if they get a far view or a close view. i saw the pope in rome this summer up at his window and i was a great distance away, it didn't matter. the energy in a crowd like that any time he appears, it's -- you can feel it in the air. >> we are waiting now to see the pope emerge from the interior
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space to where he will be visible outside. thankfully, shade has taken over a good part of the seated crowd. it's hot in the sun in washington today. you see the news media back where anne thompson's locations. one of the signature events of the first ever visit of pope francis and we have heard his given first name yelled out a few times as he has passed by the crowd, who, of course, chose to take the name francis, first time ever. and it will be -- it will be quite a moment when they -- when they get the first glimpse of him. professor, where did you say he is likely in the structure right now? >> it is said that he will be vesting in the east port co-of the basilica. that is where junipiro serra is
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represented in a mosaic as are some of the other canonized american saints. i suspect he will make a stop, if he has time, at the pope pious x relics there. this is a pope who approved the basilica in 1913 and even donated some money for it and pope francis is said to have had a special devotion to him. he was praying at the x chapel in the vatican when he went to mass just as an ordinary congregant one time this summer. >> there is a woman very patient with us named sister mary scalian, standing by in washington. sister scalian was at the white house meeting today, most notably co-chair of the world meeting of families hung and homeless committee. sister, thank you for being so patient with us. and tell us about your interest, your life's work, your field and
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how it shapes your interest in the pope's visit. >> we are just thrilled to have pope francis come to our country. i think when i saw him get off the plane yesterday here in d.c., we were moved to tears, it just was such a moving and wonderful experience because pope francis has been able to shine a light on those who are most vulnerable, not only in our country but around the world, people who are homeless, people who are in prison, people who are handicapped and people who really are on the margins of our associate most recently, the revenue jills in syria. so, it's -- it's just so important to me and to i think all catholics the pope has dorn as st. francis said, preach the gospel at all times, use the word it is necessary.
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he really speaks by his actions much more eloquently than he does by his words, obviously, his words, you know, inspire and move us as well. >> do you think we will hear more of income disparity and poverty on the larger speeches in the venues yet to come on this trip? >> i do. i can't believe that pope francis will come to our country or come to any place in our world and not speak about income equate and the needs and plight of those suffering. in particular the united states for those that are hungry and homeless. >> how do you make the message out where the works is being done, people like you, especially in the urban areas of this country? >> well, in philadelphia, to honor pope francis' visit, we have done three things. one is he has a very special devotion and that's why it's so amazing to see him at the basilica today to the blessed
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mother. and in particular, to mary undoer of knots. so, in philadelphia, we developed a grotto to mary undoer of knots, where we have gotten 100,000 people sent in their knots, their struggles, what unites all of us around our country and our world is that we all have our knots. we all have our struggles and our prayers. and we are hoping that pope francis will come and bless that grotto and bless all of our struggles and our knots, 'cause that is his beloved painting, his beloved devotion. so, that's one thing that we did. and then he also asked us to do concrete works of mercy. we developed a francis fund to help address the needs of people that are hungry and homeless, both in philadelphia and camden, our sister city, that is, you know, so much in need. and lastly, a campaign for justice, where we have asked congress to reflect upon the values of mercy and justice and to develop bipartisan
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legislation to address the needs of those that are hungry and homeless in our country and around our world. >> sister, thank you very much for your patience with us, for being kind enough to join us and for sharing, again, your life's work. your message -- >> great to be here. great to be with you again, brian. and good luck. and god bless. >> thank you very much. and here now, um, the moment this enormous crowd of somewhere north of 20,000 people, has been waiting for as pope francis makes his way to the outside altar and the view of the people assembled. takes his place in the procession which is paused.
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♪ ♪ ♪ >> which we didn't want to interrupt with words, as the pope stepped into that other worldly light coming through the doorway, professor, for non-catholics watching this ritual around the altar, what is happening here? >> well this is what the catholic church does best, its ritual. and so he has processed in. you can see his reverence. you can see that's -- we talked
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about him being energized by people and that's something that he loves to do, but it's at this moment that's not focused on the people, he is focused on the fact that's about to preside at the most sacred event in the catholic church, the sacrament of communion that he has talked about the grace of sack cents and how they are not for the perfect, they are for sinners. he considers himself a sipper, that's how he identified himself. and so this is a sacred moment for him and he has done, of course, many times, but to do it here, in this place, for the first time, is gosh is truly momentous and you can just see his reverence. >> translator: in the father, of the son, of the holy spirit, peace be with you.
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♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ speaking in latin ] >> the holy mother church earnestly beseeches your holiness to enter blessed name of the saints so that he may be invoked as such by all the christian faithful.
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junipero serra was born in mallorca in 1713. entered the order of the franciscans when he was young and he was ordained as the priest in 1737. he was a professor of philosophy in the julian university and he had the reputation of being a great teacher and preacher in the whole island of mallorca. but the end of 1740, he offered
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to leave his native country because he felt that he felt that he should be a missionary in the new world. he spent eight years in the ruggin region of the sierra gorda in mexico where he preached to the indians. during that time, he was the superior of the five franciscan missions in the region. later on, he held several posts for another eight years at the seat of the franciscan missions in mexico city. during that time, he preached in a great number of domestic missions in many areas of
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mexico. in 1767, he was elected superior of the group of franciscans, designated to replace the xbresh wits that had been expelled from their missions in lower california. >> we are back here live. this is the story that various contributors and correspondents of ours have been telling of the priest who will see be canonized today by the pope on american soil. we are watching and listening to this with you. we continue to be joined by maria shriver, who is there and kathleen sprows cummings, who is associate professor of american studies, university of notre dame with us in the studio, a contributor of ours here and ceo
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and president of volto latino and ray flynn, former ambassador to the vatican. with apologies asking you to speak over part of this ceremony, i'm curious how it feels to be there at this event in his presence again, maria. >> well, i think i was watching the pope's face during that music, which i think as kathleen said, this is what the catholic church does really well and anybody who has gone to church grew up with this, even if theft left it when you hear that music, it takes you back and people find great comfort in the ritual and the music and i was looking at his face and thinking about him as a young man. you know, his mother did not want him to become a priest. he basically disobeyed her and went anyway. i thought about his conviction to stay in the priesthood. i thought about his time in the priesthood, which has not been easy for him. i thought about the time that he
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was basically exiled to cordova to -- where he went through what they call in catholicism a dark night of the soul and came out a different man, a transformed man. and i thought about really the respect that he has for this country to con non-nice a saint here in the and why of america. much has been said about this canonization, but the fact is it's the first time we have had a canonization in the united states. so, i think that says a lot about his respect for this country. we have often heard before this trip about how he, you know, how he felt about capitalism or the consumer society or about the united states in general. but this shows great respect, i think, for this country, to canonize a saint here. it also is a nod to the west, to california, to the west where the church is growing rapidly. and i think it's also a little bit of a message to all of us that no matter what we are doing, there's a place that's at the other end of the world that we might go and help out.
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chris matthews is also watching and listening with us. oh, he is not. i'm told we have lost communications with chris. professor, we were talking and theorizing here in the studio, wondering if the pope was flagging a bit in the afternoon heat of washington. no one could blame him. and as we keep saying, at age 78, this is tough. >> he will be energized by this. i think there's a great irony. father serra's cause was opened in the 1930s soon after eight jesuit missionaries to new france were canonized. and the franciscans in california stayed, we were here, too. and many of those jet built missionaries were ministered in what is now canada. so francis caps started in a spirit of some competition, which is always present in causes for canonization, as an answer to the jet wit missionaries and here you have
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the first jesuit pope con non-nicing the franciscan missionary, a man who has taken the name francis. so, it is a wonderful arc, everything coming together like this. >> ambassador, w haven't talked to you since yesterday. excuse me, i'm going to take a drink of water. talk to me about what you're seeing. >> think it's extraordinary from this standpoint, brian. we are seeing, you know, the humility being displayed in the most prominent way. you know, the tribute to the american priesthood, the tribute to the franciscans, tribute to jesuits, also just saw it, as if i were a priest throughout the world, particularly the united states, the abuse and so forth that they have had to take and because of the horrendous behavior some of their own this has to be a very proud day. i was looking closely at the ceremony today, the canonization, looking to see if
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i would see my nephew who was there at the altar. he is also a franciscan from boston, matthew foally. you think of the mothers seeing their sons become priests and now this is the culmination of celebration of all the lessons and all the sacrifices they have made to see pope francis come to the united states, praise the united states, praise the american priesthood and, you know what, i have del dealt with a lot of ethnic politics over 40 years as mayer and some other positions, this has got to be an extraordinary day for latino-americans. i don't think they have stressed enough -- source of pride for
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all of us hispanics, americans, they might be working as janitors, they might be working as doctors or whatever it is, boy, to see this day, a priest from buenos aires, who is now pope to see the he canonizationo see father serra and to see the pride of the hispanic-american community, i think it's an extraordinary day. maria, you wish to comment on that? >> i think this is the pope that the community has been waiting for. he is basically reflective of the values that the american latino has in the home and were it is making sure you're talking about this idea of equality. i remember the first time i went to the vatican and i was blown away at its excess and actually a bit of a turnoff and this idea that's actually elevating you the idea that you actually have to talk to the most vulnerable and make sure you're elevating them is incredibly exciting.
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today at the white house when he came out and spoke, the energy that he was able to bring forth was powerful. but i also think it's also an opportunity for -- as you were saying, is how are american latinos not only aligned with a lot of the issues that the pope cares about, but how can they get more involved? it was interesting, there was an npr piece that was written saying his first idea of coming to the united states was not through cuba, but actually to walk across the border from mexico into the united states. what a statement is that? he's really -- he is thoughtful, he understands, i think, that a lot of the fact that we as americans we're really at a crossroads, when talking about this idea of mass incarceration, inequality, the idea that you actually have to have a voice and that as a powerful country in this world, define not just america but the generations forth and worldly and have to bring in the latino.
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>> bring in deportation and immigration, a debate going on concurrently with his visit. the timing is rather strong. >> i think almost on purpose. i think that right now, there is such a volume of vitriolic hate when it comes to the republican debates on how they are trying to in their own way, canonize latinos through this immigration debate, all of a sudden americans, catholic americans, 80 million of us have to put a face in the mirror is this the way we want our country to move forward? you have 30 million american late teen know, half are u.s.-born, they are eligible voters. everything that's talking about, climate change this idea, again, of immigration, they are very deeply aligned. but one thing on ser rarks i grew up in california, i was in the last site of the mission and i have to say, in the history books, we read about him, but we never read about basically a lot of the -- a lot of the contextual issues of how it impacted the native americans and there is a lot right now, a lot of friction within the
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native american community of the idea of canonizing someone that basically wiped out a whole culture. so, i think that as we are excited that's bringing in and recognizing an individual that sacrificed so much, there is a group of people that feel very -- that feel very con throw vertion with this decision. >> professor, we have tried to add that context today and it really is true. and proof again there are two sides to every history. >> absolutely true and something that the pope recognizes. i would emphasize that in canonizing a person, you certainly don't say that they have -- are without sin or that they have never done anything wrong. we wouldn't have any saint it is that were the case. i do think though that it is true. i mentioned that his cause was officially started in the 1930s. nobody was raising these issues in the 1930s that didn't -- with any missionary. and in act far in the 8,000 pages of testimony that went to the vatican to support his
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cause, there were many testimonies from native americans who had a deep devotion to father serra. that said, he was part of an era when bringing the gospel to people, to christianize people also meant making them spanish, bringing them into spanish culture. they went happened in hand. so i will just say again that we canonize people not for them, it doesn't matter to junipero serra whether he is recognized as a saint, but we canonize people on earth, not only to give examples, as i said before, models of holiness, but what they mean for us in this case, serra's blind spots, and there are no indication that he was himself a vicious abuser. in fact, he worked against that. but he -- there's no doubt that he was -- he is implicated in this larger -- >> context. >> historical context. but we live in a very different culture today when to bring the does spell to someone doesn't mean you make them like you. so, what can we learn? what can we learn in the
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american church? what can we learn in the youral american parish founded by euro-american catholics, where the congregation is mostly latino? how do you welcome them into that? not by getting them to become polish or italian. i think it is a learning moment and i expect pope francis to refer to that. if we can be talking about it -- >> that's why they call the catholic church, catholic and univer universal. i was there, john paul ii long before he was pope he was the first non-italian pope in 453 years of -- a man who graw up in oppressed poland under communist regime, nazi regime and then communism and we had a german -- german pope and now we have a latin pope. you know, it just shows what the church's -- what the church is all about. it's welcoming and you know, we stress sometimes the negative things about -- about people and organizations and so forth.
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brian, one point, after our program yesterday i went down to sardy's to see my old pal, jose, my wife and i -- jose is the bartender. and when i was walking out, a man came up to me and he says, mayor flynn, i saw you with brian williams yesterday on the program on msome n about c. the program was unbelievable, he said, just captured with how brian present and the guests and the movement and so. you might have one of the biggest shows in had the history of your career. >> there you go. >> you're like ed sullivan. >> i just decided no the to call you out for using a visit to a bartender as an excuse to go to sardy's. you can just say, as an irish-american, that you enjoy going to sardy's when you're near new york. i like the setup. and thank him for me the next time you see him. the truth is this is as
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important as any other broadcast we have done, especially given this man, given his brief reign so far, given his status as a global figure. certainly not since john paul ii, who was kind of the first modern media figure as pope and a tactile pope but the presence and charisma that this pope displays, really remarkable. what the people are learning too, brian, can you imagine the impact this is having on young people? >> absolutely. >> both the united states and throughout the world who is watching this, whether they were here, whether watching it on tv, i think people becoming more informhood, more learned, more understanding, and i -- there's probably a lot of important days. >> and i think, to your point, he is modernizing the church, he is bringing the church into the 21st century and moving the church from a judge to a spiritual adviser and i think that's what a lot of young people are looking for, someone that can actually pick a direction and say as they faced 21st century issues, who in their cross roads in their life who can actually be that
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spiritual adviser, increasingly, doing that with the church, not only providing context of what is happening in this changing world but also making sure that the church itself is reflecting in trying to change eternally as well. >> when have you ever heard of a prom end in the person being defined as humble? >> absolutely true. >> that's who he is. >> hand in hand. >> professor, again, we are being joined bay a number of non-catholics who are watching this as a live event. explain a few things here. explain the smoke. explain what they are bowing to and explain the gentleman who came forward. >> i don't want to miss this moment, the very first canonization on american soil. the rite of canonization is taking place, at the beginning, like so many other things, pope francis has streamlined it, made it more simple in recent years. what's happening now, we heard the bying of gray if i read by junipero serra, and francis spoke and beseeched god to enter the name of junipero serra into the canon of the saints, which
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mean he is that the whole church can publicly invoke him and venner in rate h-- can vennerat him there is a part of the body, a bone fragment, and a second class relic, touched a saint and said to be serra's stole, quite elaborate, though he was himself a simple man. the stole. that is what they will be presenting now and they will be vennerated, important for the cat licks to access the divine, some say a back door to the divine, when you don't with a want to ask -- go directly to god, you go to your friend first and he is a friend to many. and this moment is jubilant. i have been to canonizations in rome. the banner you see hanging is normally over st. peter's but hanging for the first time, a new saint, hanging in the united
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states and that is truly historic. >> will these items will be enshrined anywhere? >> they will, i'm not sure where. certainly part -- i'm sure some will be in the basilica itself, as i mentioned, there's relics of other american saints there. i would assume some will go to california, his home. his home state. and but they will also be -- they will be more widely distributed, the pope is being presented. >> the moment i mention even the possibility that this 78-year-old man with one lung is flagging in the afternoon heat, i lost my voice. >> that was god. yeah, somebody. >> now, the franciscans themselves have really -- they have not actively pursued junipero's canonization. since 1988, about the protests regarding his beatfication, and many said, in fact, i said, until six months ago, it was very likely that serra would
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remain a permanent beato, that he would not be canonized. and like so many other things, pope francis surprised us and announced that he would be canonized. >> look at that beautiful shot. >> beautiful. >> maria shriver, thoughts on what you're witnessing. >> well, i think, as kathleen was just saying, it's an historic moment. people here are very quiet, very, very quiet. it was quite a raucous crowd in the beginning. and people here seem to be paying a lot of attention. i have been to a lot of masses where people don't pay a lot of attention and they seem to be very focused and quite serious. just a point were i think kathleen was talking about that he is making the church modern and i think one of the big challenges for him, and it's worth noting, is women, how to
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include women, who are such vibrant part of this church in this modern church, and he, the pope himself has said it is not enough for bim to be in the kbir, to be the head -- choir, the head of kery. tas, and a woman in charge of catholic charities, in the coming days, some place, i hope we talk about the role of women in this church, you see a tremendous amount of men here. and i think to be truly modern, especially when it get to philadelphia and women at the center of so many families, how they are made to feel included in this church when they can really have so many other opportunities in other places. so i think that will be a challenge for this modern catholic church. >> hear hear, maria. a discussion of the topic earlier today, continuing to be part of our coverage going
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forward. i want to tell our viewers, if you see a fleeting glance of what may be a familiar face in the choir, calista gingrich, wife of the former speaker of the house, newt gingrich, is a member of the choir. and speaking of music, this is so beautiful, let us listen in for a few moments. ♪ ♪ ♪
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♪ ♪ >> translator: american peoples within your church may he so join our hearts to you in love as to carry always and everywhere before all people the
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image of your only begotten son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the holy spirit, one god, forever and ever. >> professor, we are awaiting a reading which will be a familiar moment for american catholics, tell us were we are in this church? >> the rite of canonization is over and now we are beginning the liturgy of the word. the unusual parts are over and is something familiar. and there will be a homily and then after that will be the literature jie of the eucharist. >> we had heard that the pope may do the homily in english?
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>> i don't know if this is one of the ones he is scheduled to speak in english. i think it was -- well, he may. i don't know. do you know? >> i know that he has 16 versions -- 14 are in spanish. >> i think today, he did great, by the way. i thought his english was wonderful, but i don't think there were too many. and actually, brian, when a canonization happens in rome, it is very customary for the homily to be preached in the language of the person being canonized, so, in this sense, and in this sense, it's very appropriate that it would be in spanish, because serra spoke spanish. >> our control room is confirming it will be in spanish. professor, explain the significance, we welcome viewers, by the way, just after 5 p.m. here in the east, the