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U.S. Officials Claims "Substantial Progress," Possible Deal On China Talks; Trump Announces Edan Alexander Will Return To The United States; Zelenskyy Agrees To Meet Putin For First Talks Since War; Trump Heads To Middle East As Budget Battle Brews At Home; Pope Leo XIV Sings, Calls for Peace At First Sunday Blessing; "Saving Venice". Aired 7-8p ET

Aired May 11, 2025 - 19:00   ET

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

[19:00:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMISON GREER, U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE: So we're confident that the deal we struck with our Chinese partners will help us to resolve -- work toward resolving that national emergency.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JESSICA DEAN, CNN HOST: So now the world markets await those details with shipping from China to the U.S. essentially frozen at the moment.

CNN correspondent Marc Stewart in Beijing, CNN senior White House reporter Betsy Klein is at the White House. Both are joining us now.

Marc, let's start first with you. It is almost 7:00 a.m. there in China. What have the Chinese said so far about all of this?

MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jessica, I think China very much views this as a starting point for a broader conversation, not just on tariffs, but as well as trade between these two economic giants, the world's largest and second largest economies. And it has been a big shift because going into these talks, there was a lot of contention between these two nations. Now we are focused on negotiation and a broader conversation.

Among those leading the discussions from the Chinese side of things is China's Vice Premier He Lifeng. I want to share with you a statement. I think we can put it up on the screen. You will hear that he sounds very much like a diplomat. Among his remarks following the conclusion of these talks, "Under the current circumstances, the meeting has caught high attention from the international community and thanks to the concerted efforts of both sides, the meeting has been productive and has been an important first step taken by the two sides to properly resolve their differences through equal footed dialogue."

I think the key phrase here is important first step. A lot of these details still need to be ironed out, and we are very much waiting to hear about a joint statement released from both China and from American officials. The statement will likely answer some of these lingering questions, such as the timeline for these future discussions. Where will they take place? How will they take place?

And of course, Jessica, this lingering question, will these very high tariffs that have locked both the U.S. and China out of each other's economies, will they remain in place, or has there been discussion of creating some kind of new fresh start or at least reduce tariffs to begin the process forward?

DEAN: Yes, so many questions. And let's go to Betsy now to hear more about what the White House is saying and the significance. If these two sides do have a deal, that is a big deal.

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE PRODUCER: Certainly. We are short on specifics at this hour, but the White House is really characterizing this as a trade deal with China, and it really has the capacity to have massive implications for the global economy.

Now, how did we get here? The president back in April imposed those sweeping 145 percent tariffs on Chinese goods, really roiling markets. And ever since then, the U.S. and China have really been locked in a virtual stalemate on this trade issue.

Now, meanwhile, as there has been so much uncertainty in the markets, the president unveiled that agreement in principle with the United Kingdom on trade and his economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, said on Sunday morning that there are about 24 deals in the works with other countries. Now, but they really hadn't been able to break through with China until this weekend. President Trump characterizing this as a reset with China and U.S. officials emerged from that meeting saying that substantial progress had been made.

I want to underline some comments from the U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer, who said perhaps the differences were not as large as we thought. So clearly there was something there about being in person in Switzerland that got them to break through on this. Now, as Marc mentioned, China's vice premier said that this is just a first step. So we'll have to see what subsequent conversations move forward.

We still don't know what rate of tariff these two countries agreed to, but Scott Bessent, the Treasury secretary, says that more details will be unveiled. There's going to be a press conference at 3:00 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning, of course, before the markets open. We'll be watching that quite closely.

DEAN: Indeed we will. And Marc, to the markets. Obviously, we're still waiting until they open where you are. But what initially are you getting?

STEWART: Well, as we have seen through this whole saga, the markets are so sensitive. So if there is any morsel of good news, we would likely see some kind of lift in the markets. Right now, U.S. futures appear to be in the green. So it's something that Wall Street is receiving well. But also we can't underestimate the importance of main street because so many small businesses are dependent on China for manufacturing and for distribution.

And then as you mentioned, markets will open in Asia in just about an hour. Of course, we're curious to see what happens here in China and Hong Kong, but also in North Korea and in Japan or South Korea, I should say, and Japan.

[19:05:06]

These are economies that are heavily tied to international trade. They have been very strongly impacted by these tariffs. If this gives an indication that perhaps more resolution could be in the works, we would see some gains here as well.

As I mentioned to you earlier, last hour, Jessica, I was reading an investor note from Dan Ives, as you mentioned, a friend of this program. He is saying that this resolution this weekend are the news, these headlines, very much in many ways have defied expectations and do provide a framework for the future. And that's really what Wall Street wants, as well as main street, some kind of roadmap, some kind of clue as to where all of this is heading.

DEAN: Yes, there are -- yes, there's been so many questions around that.

Betsy, before we let you go, I also want to ask you about another piece of news, President Trump previewing a new executive order on prescription drug prices, something a lot of Americans care about. What can you tell us about this?

KLEIN: Yes, Jessica, I'm glad you asked because I actually consulted our colleague Tami Luhby, who's really the expert on this, after the president posted to social media. The president said in a post that at 9:00 a.m., quote, "I will be signing one of the most consequential executive orders in our country's history. Prescription drug and pharmaceutical prices will be reduced almost immediately by 30 percent to 80 percent."

Now, this has to do with a controversial policy that is known as the most favored nation policy. It essentially allows the U.S. to piggyback on prescription drug discounts that are negotiated by other countries. This is something that Trump put into place back in 2020. It was blocked by the courts, and reinstating it was one of his 2024 campaign promises.

It is something that is almost certain, Jessica, to spark legal challenges. The president has also promised to enact pharmaceutical tariffs, so we will be watching that space as well.

DEAN: All right, Betsy Klein, at the White House, Marc Stewart in Beijing, monitoring all sides of this. Thanks to both of you.

And here to break this down for us is the chair of international economics at the Atlantic Council, Josh Lipsky.

Josh, thanks so much for being here with us on this Sunday evening. Let's just start first with your initial take on what we're hearing from both White House officials and Chinese officials.

JOSH LIPSKY, CHAIR, INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS, THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL: Well, I think it's good news that there's dialogue and they've had some kind of mechanism established to continue negotiations on trade, but we need to temper our expectations slightly. Those of us who lived through the first trade wars, 2018 to 2020, remember that it took two years from the initial actions from the Trump administration to resolve them at the phase one trade deal in January 2020, so we can't expect in two days in Switzerland to get to some resolution on what is a much more sweeping and massive kind of tariff escalation.

But I do think it's important to say that the clock is ticking. We don't have two years this time, and I think both sides recognize that. And you saw the urgency in the negotiations. We have right now no ships leaving China for the West Coast. That's the first time we've seen that since the COVID pandemic. We are hearing retailers talk about empty store shelves within weeks. So there's an urgency here.

I think the negotiators realize that. And the real question that we need to find out in the next 12 hours, is there any agreement to reduce the tariff rates because 145 percent, 125 percent, that is a lockout, that is a trade embargo. And the global economy, not just the U.S. and Chinese economy, can't handle that for much longer.

DEAN: Yes. And you note importantly that as of right now, there are no ships going to the West Coast from China. That there is dwindling supply in the harbor right now of any merchandise that's still here that can go to store shelves and that there is that pressure. Beyond that, and again, we have to wait for details here, and we're waiting to hear more. But depending on what they've agreed to, could that help ease fears, some fears that this trade war could spark a recession or stagflation or rising inflation, even from where we are right now?

LIPSKY: Well, it certainly could. The devil is in the details. Are they willing to lower tariff rates in what we would call an intermediate ceasefire, to bring the rates down to something like 60 percent, where President Trump promised in the campaign? That's still extraordinarily high, and we should say many retailers in the United States would still not import Chinese products at 60 percent, but that would be the kind of step that would show we're headed probably over months to a better resolution here.

But we have no indication whether they're there or they're keeping at the 145. We should say the Fed already had analysis that came out on Friday showing that the price passthroughs the higher inflation is already coming to consumers. So this is real. And the global economy is not a light switch. You can't just turn off and off the U.S.-China economic relationship and then expect there's not going to be some short-circuiting.

And I think that's what's happening right now. So we need some stability, we need some certainty and we need some clarity going forward. And we hope we get that within the next day.

DEAN: Yes. All right. Well, more to come. Josh, thanks so much for your time. Great to have you.

LIPSKY: Thanks, Jessica. [19:10:02]

DEAN: And just moments ago, President Trump announcing Edan Alexander will return to the United States. He is the last known living American hostage currently being held by Hamas in Gaza. President Trump posting on social media this was a, quote, "step taken in good faith toward the United States and the efforts of the mediators, Qatar and Egypt, to put an end to this very brutal war and return all living hostages and remains to their loved ones."

CNN's Jeremy Diamond helped break this story. He has details now for us from Tel Aviv -- Jeremy.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jessica, Hamas is indeed confirming that it will release the last living American it is holding hostage in Gaza, and that is the Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who was taken captive on October 7th. Alexander will be released in the next two days, I'm told by sources familiar with the matter. And this is being described to me as a goodwill gesture on Hamas's part, one that is intended to try and jumpstart negotiations to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of the remaining 59 hostages being held in the Gaza Strip.

I'm also told that Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, who has been instrumental in the negotiations that are now leading to Alexander's release. He will be flying to Tel Aviv tomorrow morning and will be on hand to personally welcome Alexander back home as he is released from captivity.

All of this, of course, coming ahead of President Trump's expected visit to the Middle East this week. The president as of now not scheduled to come to Israel, but his trip to the region is definitely one of the pressure points that has led to this agreement to release Edan Alexander and is leading more broadly to momentum to try and push for additional negotiations that could potentially lead to some kind of a ceasefire.

Indeed, this source familiar with the matter who talked to me about these negotiations said that they will go into, quote, "immediate peace deal negotiations" following Alexander's release. That is also something that the Israelis are now acknowledging. The Israeli prime minister's office in a statement noting that this is a deal between Hamas and the United States negotiated by the Qataris and the Egyptians, one that will not result in any compensation or conditions on the Israeli side, which means no release of Palestinian prisoners, for example.

But they do say that the United States has told Israel that this move is, quote, "expected to lead to negotiations" for the release of additional hostages. And so that is really what we are waiting to see. All of this comes, of course, as Israel's total blockade of Gaza is now more than two months in, more than two months without any food getting into the Gaza Strip. And as Israel is threatening to escalate its military campaign in Gaza.

All of that, of course, could be averted and alleviated if indeed these negotiations lead to some kind of a broader ceasefire. But for the moment, we expect again that Edan Alexander will be released within the next two days, finally reuniting with his family -- Jessica.

DEAN: Yes, finally, after 19 months. Jeremy Diamond, in Tel Aviv, thank you so much for that.

Up next, President Trump is urging Ukraine's president to hold crucial peace talks with Vladimir Putin, even as Russia ignores new demands for an unconditional ceasefire. Plus, Trump will visit three of the world's wealthiest nations during a trip to the Middle East this week. What those countries want from the U.S. and what Trump could demand in return. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:18:28]

DEAN: Tonight, major developments in Russia's war in Ukraine. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreeing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. This development, after President Trump urged Zelenskyy to accept Putin's offer for peace talks in Turkey. Putin proposing these after Ukraine's European allies called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire that was supposed to start Monday, threatening new sanctions.

Now, if the meeting does take place, it would be the first such meeting since this war began three years ago.

CNN's Julia Benbrook is joining us now.

Julia, what more can you tell us about how Zelenskyy did agree to this meeting? One expert I had on said he's really calling Putin's bluff. Those were his words.

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And let's take a step back at the discussions that have really led to this moment. European leaders and the U.S. have been really trying to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a month long ceasefire. And one big question right now, Jessica, is if a social media post from President Donald Trump undermined those overall efforts.

On Saturday, we saw several European leaders meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, and it was a strong showing of support. They also had a strong message for Putin, saying accept a 30- day ceasefire agreement starting on Monday or face massive new sanctions. And when they presented these demands, they said that they had the backing of the White House.

Then we saw an overnight address from Putin where he did not directly speak about those demands.

[19:20:02]

Instead, he called for direct talks between Ukrainian officials and Russian officials. This is where that post from Trump comes in. He called on Ukraine to accept those talks even without a ceasefire agreement in place.

Let's pull up exactly what he had to say. He said, quote, "President Putin of Russia doesn't want to have a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday in Turkey to negotiate a possible end to the bloodbath. Ukraine should agree to this immediately. At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible. And if it is not, European leaders and the U.S. will know where everything stands and can proceed accordingly." He ended that post in all caps, saying, have the meeting now.

Now, as you mentioned, Zelenskyy has said that he is willing to meet directly with Putin. If that meeting happens. And again, a lot of questions about whether or not it will, but if that meeting happens, it would be the first time these two leaders have met since well before Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

DEAN: All right, Julia Benbrook in Washington, thank you so much for that update.

I want to go back now to the Middle East, where Hamas says it will release Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage being held in Gaza as early as tomorrow. Now, this release is not part of a prisoner swap. Instead, Hamas says this is part of the steps toward a ceasefire. It hopes that it will see Gaza crossings reopened, allowing humanitarian aid to be brought back in.

And joining us now to talk more about all of this is Hagar Chemali, former National Security Council director for Syria and Lebanon, who also served as a spokesperson for the U.S. Treasury and now hosts a YouTube show called "Oh, My World."

Hagar, thank you so much for being here with us. This is breaking news that just came about in the last several hours. I first just want to get your thoughts on the fact that we are going to see a release of the last known living American hostages being held in Gaza, and what this could mean as President Trump heads to the Middle East.

HAGAR CHEMALI, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL DIRECTOR FOR SYRIA AND LEBANON: Well, it's great news in part because we haven't had a hostage release in a while. And when you've heard, when we heard at first that there were 24 hostages alive presumed and now possibly 21, things are becoming more and more depressing. And just a week or two ago, when we had the Israeli cabinet say that they were prioritizing the expanding of Gaza, the war in Gaza, over the release of hostages, it added to that depression.

And so it's wonderful news to see, even if it's just one hostage. It's great news. It's of course painful when you think about the others who are remaining, but it also lays the groundwork, at least, to keep these negotiations alive. Because this is technically supposed to lead to further negotiations for further hostages hostage releases. And I would note that it's within the context of a desire for movement on Gaza negotiations before Trump's trip to the Middle East, and a deadline that Israel has set to achieve some kind of deal by the end of Trump's trip to the Middle East. DEAN: And so, OK, so staying with that and broadening it out,

President Trump now heads to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Then he'll go on to Qatar, the UAE. These countries are some of the richest in the world. And that is a region right now where so many of these pieces kind of all fit together and affect one another. So set the stage for all of us as the president heads there, what he would be hoping to get out of these visits, what could come about from these visits?

CHEMALI: Sure. Well, the fact that they're the richest in the world is no coincidence. President Trump, I think, it shows that he's prioritizing in particular business deals, economic trade deals, things of that kind, discussions of that kind over political and security and geopolitical discussions which is unique for an American president as the very first trip of the administration. So his message is very clear that that's what he wants to focus on and that he wants to focus on deals that would benefit the United States.

For example, when he talked about Saudi Arabia, he'd explained that Saudi Arabia had promised to invest $600 billion in the United States and that if they would round it up to $1 trillion, he would make Saudi Arabia the first visit. So perhaps they promised that. So there's that piece of it. I mean, he will focus on that. The administration has said that. Things have, for example, trade deals, particularly as they relate to the sale of defense equipment from American contractors.

But on the other hand, you do have some major geopolitical issues. Most importantly is the revitalization of the Saudi-Israel normalization talks, peace talks. That is a key focus of the Trump administration because we know that the president wants to expand the Abraham Accords. He's singularly focused on getting a Nobel Peace Prize. And by expanding the number of countries under the Abraham Accords through that.

And Saudi Arabia is obviously a vital path to that. So they'll talk about that. And obviously also Iran negotiations, probably an update on that, but also probably seeking some kind of quiet support for those talks because Trump wants to prevent a nuclear arms race in the region.

[19:25:10]

DEAN: Mm-hmm. And you talked about the normalization with Saudi and Israel, that was so close prior to October 7th, and obviously what has unfolded since then. How much of a driver is all of that in what -- in both what Trump wants but also what the Middle East wants as well.

CHEMALI: Well, what you have in the region in general, in particular, since last fall, when you've seen the way Hezbollah was decapitated and Hamas has been decimated and Iran is on the defense because Israel wiped out its defense missile capabilities around their nuclear facilities in Tehran, and, of course, culminating with Bashar al-Assad fleeing Syria to Moscow, it has shifted the entire regional dynamic across the Middle East, where that so-called axis of resistance is on the losing end, and all these other powers are winning.

And Saudi Arabia is really the global hegemon for that region, which is why Saudi Arabia is the very first stop on this trip. This is Trump's way of saying this is what -- this is how he views geopolitics. It's not through our alliances so much as which powers are the largest and most influential, and that wield the most and have the most money. And that's why he's going there first.

So the Saudi-Israel talks in particular, those are one piece, but they're very significant because not -- and not just because they might think they're likely to encourage other countries as well to join the Abraham Accords. But because there is a piece of that one in particular that would talk about a Palestinian state, and the future of a Palestinian state, and Trump as close as he is and supportive as he is of Israel, it doesn't necessarily mean that Trump and Bibi are on the same page. Trump is really pushing Bibi to agree to his plans, for example, in Gaza and in general, as it comes -- when it comes to how he seeks to pursue peace across the region.

DEAN: Yes, it's going to be a fascinating trip.

Hagar, thanks so much for being here with us. We really appreciate it.

CHEMALI: Thanks.

DEAN: Well, this could be a make or break week on Capitol Hill for President Trump's big, beautiful bill. But how Republican infighting could derail this sweeping package? We're going to talk about that. Also, the special guest that Pope Leo had visiting him today at the Vatican and his message during his first Sunday address in Saint Peter's Square.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:32:24]

DEAN: President Donald Trump has a big week ahead while he's on a high stakes trip to the Middle East, there will also be a big push on Capitol Hill to pass his agenda and that's on the heels of a whirlwind weekend of international news.

And joining us to discuss it all, CNN political commentator and Democratic strategist Maria Cardona and Republican strategist Pete Seat, a former spokesperson for the George W. Bush administration. It's great to have both of you here on this Sunday evening.

Look, Pete, I want to start first with you. We have had a lot of news this weekend, a lot of developments for the Trump White House, the last known living American hostage in Gaza set to be released. Progress on trade with China. The ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and now possible face to face talks between Zelenskyy and Putin for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine.

How would you assess Trump's foreign policy agenda right now and all of these moves that we've seen just really in the last 48 to 72 hours?

PETE SEAT, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, first of all, Happy Mother's Day to my mom. I know she's watching back home in Northwest Indiana right now. But to your question, Jessica, this has not just been a good week for

the Trump administration in terms of foreign policy, it has been a great day. You just outlined some of the major moves that have taken place in what has not been a lazy Sunday by any stretch of the imagination.

And I know there were a lot of apocalyptic predictions about this second Trump term and what it would mean for the global stage that we would pull out of NATO and start World War III, and all of these crazy things that Democrats said were going to happen with such certainty.

But here you have the last American hostage being released. Here you have a deal with the United States and China. We don't know what's in the deal yet, but I think it's safe to assume that China is going to reduce or eliminate some of their non-tariff trade barriers and that will be a huge boom to the American economy and hopefully bring more jobs to this country and help farmers who are producing crops that could use the Chinese market.

DEAN: And, Maria, I want to get your reaction. Does the Trump administration deserve some credit here?

MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, Donald Trump said himself during the campaign that he was going to resolve the Ukraine- Russia War on day one, that he was going to resolve the Israel-Gaza war on day one. So, he's a little bit behind the eight ball.

Look, it's amazing that we're going to get the hostage back -- the last American hostage back tomorrow, as reports say. That is incredible. We know that the work to get the hostages back started during the Biden administration continued under Trump. So, yes, I think everyone who has worked on this deserves a lot of credit for that.

On the India and Pakistan deal, look, I don't know. I mean, the first thing we heard from Vice President JD Vance was that they don't give a crap about what happens between India and Pakistan, that that's not our problem. Then I think they panicked and realized what a real concern in terms of this seeping into nuclear territory that they, you know, understood how important it was. But if they didn't know that to begin with, that's actually concerning.

So, the world is on fire. Donald Trump needs to do his job. We'll see what happens with China. Like you said, we don't know what the details of that are. This is something that is a self-imposed issue for a lot of Americans.

[19:05:30]

Americans are hurting because of the stupid tariff war that Donald Trump started when he was told by economists from the left and the right that it was dumb, dumb, dumb. That's not me saying it. That's people from "The Wall Street Journal" and other conservative economists have said that. Americans are already seeing higher prices. We see shipping containers are being emptied. We'll see what happens tomorrow. We don't know whether it's going to be a good deal or not. Even an 80

percent tariff is more than what there is now, which will mean higher prices for American families, which is exactly the opposite of what Trump promised during the campaign. So, it would still be a massive betrayal of American voters on the one issue that they trusted him on, which is the economy.

DEAN: I do want to get to another topic, because while we have the Trump administration making these big moves internationally this weekend, we're also getting this information, this new news about this plane.

Two sources telling CNN the Trump administration plans to accept this luxury plane from Qatar's Royal Family to use as Air Force One. Our reporting is that within the Secret Service, the potential gifting of a plane by a foreign government for Presidential use is being viewed as a security nightmare according to a law enforcement source, that the U.S. Air Force would have to tear it apart looking for surveillance equipment and inspect the integrity of the plane. Not to mention the fact that this is hundreds of millions of dollars being gifted to a President. What is your reaction to this? Does this raise concerns for you?

SEAT: Well real quick, I can't let go what Maria said. The world is on fire because of the failure of the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration. So, didn't want that to go without getting a response.

But on this plane issue. I have been blessed and privileged to have flown on Air Force One domestically and internationally. You can call me a traditionalist when it comes to that iconic color scheme. And if this means Donald Trump gets his putrid oxford blue and burgundy plane and no other President ever has to fly in something that looks that ugly, then by all means.

But I absolutely agree with the security concerns. The President of the United States is on board, potentially this plane. They will practically have to gut the thing to make sure there are no bugs, and that no one manipulated or tried to tamper with the aircraft. That is a huge problem. Not just the fact that it could be unethical, potentially, if it ends up going to his presidential library afterwards.

DEAN: Yes Maria, I've got 30 seconds. I want to get your thoughts on that too.

CARDONA: Yes, I agree. Look, this is I think is one of the biggest concerns from the Trump administration that he is more and more -- it's more important for him, it's more of a priority for him to get into these massively corrupt bargains that will make him richer and his family richer.

You had Richard Painter on earlier talked about -- that this is, if Congress does not approve this and I guarantee you they will not. This is against the law.

So, once again, you have the Trump administration doing something possibly criminal, definitely corrupt, that could put our National Security at risk more so than what they have from the moment they walked into the White House.

DEAN: All right, Maria and Pete, thanks for -- yes, thanks for spending a little bit of your Sunday with us. We really appreciate it.

CARDONA: Thanks, Jessica. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there.

DEAN: Yes, thanks, guys.

Still ahead, Pope Leo calls for peace in Ukraine and Gaza as he greets massive crowds for his first Sunday mass since his election.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:43:37]

DEAN: Well, does that sound familiar? That's Pope Leo XIV just singing in a Christmas Party with the youth ministry group in Peru back in 2014.

Today, Pope Leo also broke out his singing voice, singing the "Queen of Heaven" prayer this morning to a jubilant crowd in Saint Peter's Square.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(POPE LEO XIV, HEAD OF CATHOLIC CHURCH singing "Queen of Heaven")

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: He would call for peace around the world, setting the tone for his new papacy. And you hear the applause of the more than 150,000 people who came to hear his first Sunday blessing as Pope.

And in attendance at the Vatican today, the Pope's brother, John, who traveled from Chicago to be at his little brother's first Sunday mass as the head of the Catholic Church.

CNN's Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb has more now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN, VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there was a celebratory atmosphere in Saint Peter's Square for Pope Leo XIV's First Sunday prayer and address. There was a cacophony of noise as the bands from different parts of the world processed into the square and a sea of color, adding to the sense of joy for this occasion.

About 150,000 people in the Square to hear from Pope Leo. They heard him. Sing the "Regina Caeli" Sunday prayer. That was a surprise. No one was expecting that and it brought another sense of connection with the Pope, because people were able to join in with the singing. [19:45:07]

Now, Pope Leo, gave a strong appeal for peace in the Middle East, in Ukraine; also praising the truce between India and Pakistan, saying he hopes that holds.

Also, encouraging young people to consider a vocation to the priesthood and religious life, saying do not be afraid. Of course, this Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday when the Catholic Church tries to pray and encourage vocations.

Pope Leo really connecting with the crowd, singing, as I said, but also calling out pilgrims from different parts of the world, including those from Dallas, Texas as a special moment given it came from the first American Pope.

So, Pope Leo really leading a prayer that was full of celebration and joy here in Saint Peter's.

Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DEAN: Christopher, thank you for that.

Up next, a witness to history. Meet a U.S. veteran, an eyewitness to history at the end of World War II, in Europe, less than a year after he stormed the beaches of Normandy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LOUIS GRAZIANO, U.S. VETERAN: Germans were shooting down at us. I got my flamethrower out and shot up on the underneath.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:50:45]

DEAN: This week marks 80 years since the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

And CNN's Tom Foreman has the story of a U.S. veteran believed to have been an eyewitness to the moment Nazi officers agreed to stop fighting in Europe.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Under the thundering guns of the Normandy invasion. An American soldier, barely in his 20s presses into the chaos of D-day.

Louis Graziano does not know he is headed for a place in the history books. He knows only that he has to survive these perilous moments.

He still recalls at the age of 102.

GRAZIANO: The Germans were shooting down at us, and I got my flamethrower out and shot up on the underneath where the Germans were and put that on fire and got rid of that machine gun.

FOREMAN (voice over): A hairstylist by choice, a soldier by chance. Graziano, was drafted into the Army and rode the Queen Mary across the Atlantic, where after D-Day, he was put in charge of structures occupied by allied forces, including the supreme headquarters for the allied command, the little red schoolhouse where history was made.

GRAZIANO: For a lot of straight faces of the Germans. It was at the table, and there was a British and the French and all the other officers.

FOREMAN (voice over): There, Graziano saw the Germans sign the unconditional agreement to surrender. He is believed to be the only American witness still alive.

GRAZIANO: I was happy that that was taking place and then I will be able to go home soon.

FOREMAN (voice over): But first he had to escort the defeated officers to face General Dwight Eisenhower.

GRAZIANO: He wouldn't shake hands with them, and then he dismissed him and they clipped their heels together and dismissed them.

FOREMAN (voice over): Afterward, Graziano married a woman's Army Corps Staff Sergeant, Eula "Bobbie" Shaneyfelt. They honeymooned in Paris and moved home to Georgia to raise a family, never venturing back to the battlefields.

GRAZIANO: I've been asked to go many times in my way, paid, but I don't care to go across that ocean again.

FOREMAN (voice over): Indeed, after a century of life, he remains content merely recalling his rendezvous with history in the French countryside when victory in Europe was secured so long ago.

Tom Foreman, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:58:00]

DEAN: It is Mother's Day and before we go tonight, I want to take a moment to celebrate the women who have helped shape the team that brings you this show every weekend. And you are looking at pictures of our team with their moms, their grandmothers, and the other women who have mothered us over the years. Sisters, aunts -- I'm lucky enough to have a mom and also a lovely mother-in-law.

A lot of our team also celebrating their wives, of course, the mothers of their children. These are the women that make our world go round and we are all very, very lucky bunch that we get to spend our time with them.

And I'm grateful to the whole team I get to talk on behalf of you tonight. So, thanks to all of you for sending in those photos and happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there.

And tonight, on "The Whole Story," CNN anchor, Erica Hill takes us to one of Italy's most beloved cities, Venice. Concerns about the city's survival are growing as water levels rise and visitors push the ancient city to its limits.

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Jess, this is a magical destination that really feels more like a dream when you're there. Even just the word Venice, for a lot of people, brings to mind images of gondolas, canals, carnival, maybe even some flooded piazzas. But if you think that saving Venice is only about those floods and rising sea levels, think again.

For many Venetians, saving Venice, means saving the soul of this ancient city and also their place in it. Both of which are increasingly threatened by rising tourism and a shrinking population.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILL (on camera): Do you worry about, as a Venetian, the soul of the city, for people who live here -- do you worry about that going away?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That is slowly going away because locals are going away.

Everything changes because less locals means less services. Less services means less locals. It's a chain. That keeps going at a circle. So, you struggle to find a family doctor. You go to the supermarkets, which is full of supermarkets, but all of them sell only the highest priced thing because tourists buy it anyways.

The only way to save the city is keeping the locals in. Otherwise, it's going to be like an empty box.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL (on camera): As Venice has really leaned into tourism, many locals feel they're being forced out, but they don't say, you have to do away with visitors altogether, it's just that there may be a better way to welcome them. And they warned that not addressing this issue actually threatens their very survival.

I hope you will join me for a look at not only the challenges but the solutions as we take a look at different ways to save Venice. I promise you, this hour is absolutely beautiful and it's also a little surprising -- Jess.

[20:00:44]

DEAN: All right, sounds great. Be sure to tune in to "Saving Venice," it's an all-new episode of "The Whole Story" with Anderson Cooper, one whole hour, one whole story -- it's next, only on CNN.

Thanks so much for joining me this evening, I'm Jessica Dean, we're going to see you right back here next weekend. Have a great night.

[20:01:04]