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Former U.S. President Joe Biden Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer; Trump to Speak with Russia's Putin to Consider Measures for a Ceasefire with Ukraine; U.S. Vice President Attends Pope Leo's Inaugural Mass; Scottie Scheffler Bags PGA Championship Title. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired May 19, 2025 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world and everyone streaming us on CNN Max. I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, reaction to former President Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis, what we're learning about his condition.

U.S. President Donald Trump's so-called Big Beautiful Bill clears a key committee but the measure still faces some notable opposition.

And President Trump says he will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone later today. Advisors say the call could be key to stopping the fighting in Ukraine.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: Thanks for joining us.

Well, messages of support are coming from across the political spectrum for former U.S. President Joe Biden. This follows news that he has been diagnosed with what's being called an aggressive form of prostate cancer. In a statement, his personal office said the cancer has spread to his bones and Mr. Biden, now 82, is reviewing treatment options.

CNN's Arlette Saenz has more now from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The 82-year-old Biden was at his home in Wilmington, Delaware when this news was made public and his family is now working to determine what treatment options will look like going forward.

The statement from his office said, quote, "Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer characterized by a Gleason score of 9, (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone. While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone sensitive, which allows for effective management."

Biden and his family are reviewing treatment options with physicians going forward. We're still trying to learn where exactly President Biden might be treated after receiving this diagnosis. But this all comes as questions about Biden's physical and mental capacity while he was in office have returned to the public spotlight.

Our colleague Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson are about to roll out a new book which details some signs of decline in the former President while he was serving as commander-in-chief. But setting that aside for the Biden family, this is just the latest in a long history of them dealing with some tragedy and some personal setbacks.

Biden himself lost his daughter and wife in a car accident when he had just been elected to the U.S. Senate. And then in 2015, his son, Beau Biden, passed away from brain cancer. In fact, Biden's diagnosis comes about two weeks before they were about to mark the 10th anniversary of Beau Biden's passing.

And Biden, as President, also did a lot of work on what he called the cancer moonshot, trying to boost funding for cancer research, as he had really zeroed in on that as a key issue in his presidency. But right now, for the Biden family, this is something a very difficult moment that they are going through.

And for many aides as well. I've heard from many who are simply devastated by this news of this cancer diagnosis for the former president. But now we will be waiting to hear what the next steps will look like as his family is evaluating the treatment options at this time.

Arlette Saenz, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis is being met with well wishes from those who served alongside the former president and even from those who have opposed him.

That includes President Donald Trump, who took to social media to write, "Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden's recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery."

Former President Barack Obama also sending his support, saying "Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe. And I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery."

[03:04:54] And this message from Mr. Biden's former Vice President, Kamala Harris, who said, quote, "Joe is a fighter, and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery."

Well, cancer has long been a personal issue for Joe Biden. His son, Beau, died of brain cancer in 2015. President Obama tapped Mr. Biden in 2019 to lead a task force aimed at curing cancer, something he later re-established during his own presidency. In 2019, Mr. Biden spoke about his belief that a cure was within reach.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, THEN-U.S. PRESIDENT: The fight against cancer, the fight to eliminate racial disparities in cancer and outcomes is a fight we have to be unwilling to postpone. I am convinced as we make significant progress in cancer, the only truly nonpartisan issue facing this country that the rest of the nation is going to say, damn it, we can do anything.

This is the United States of America. This is fully, thoroughly, totally, completely within our wheelhouse.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN senior political commentator Van Jones spoke with CNN's Jessica Dean earlier about the former president and his efforts in the fight against cancer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VAN JONES, CNN SR. POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: The great thing about Joe Biden is, you know, he reaches out to people, he touches people, he understands people personally, and then he turns right over to policy and tries to make a difference when it comes to policy. And so this cancer moonshot, it touched him personally.

Beau Biden, I think, honestly, I think Joe Biden hoped that Beau Biden would be president of the United States someday, even when he had maybe given up on his own dreams. But he took that pain and he turned it into a policy initiative that could ultimately wind up saving millions and millions of lives. And who knows, maybe some of the things that he's focused on might wind up helping him, helping him and saving his own life.

But, you know, it's -- I think people have a hard time understanding this. The median age of an American right now is 38 years old. Joe Biden has been in public life for 50 years, so longer than most Americans have been alive.

Joe Biden has been walking the halls, marble halls, pressing the flesh, trying to get things done for Americans. Cancer is just one of the many causes that he has championed. But this one now it strikes very close to home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Well, joining us now from Anchorage, Alaska, is Dr. Max Rabinowitz, a medical oncologist. Thank you, Doctor, for joining us. I appreciate it.

DR. MAX RABINOWITZ, MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST: Well, thanks for having me.

CHURCH: So how serious is this cancer diagnosis for former President Joe Biden? How significant is it that this has spread to his bones?

RABINOWITZ: This is a very significant diagnosis. You know, anyone diagnosed with prostate cancer, especially in the advanced stage, it's a life changing event. And he has apparently been diagnosed with bone metastasis, which means that the prostate cancer has spread from out of the prostate into the bones, usually through the bloodstream.

CHURCH: And what is the best treatment for this type of cancer?

RABINOWITZ: Well, you know, it will be a decision between him and his physicians. And there are several very active treatments for metastatic prostate cancer that is what we call de novo, or, you know, he hasn't had any further treatments.

The typical treatment is what we call androgen suppression, which prostate cancer depends on testosterone to grow. And so we use medications that suppress testosterone in the body, and thereby shrinking the prostate cancer.

CHURCH: And doctor, how big a factor is Joe Biden's age in this cancer diagnosis given he is 82?

RABINOWITZ: It is definitely a factor. The most -- the median age for diagnosis of prostate cancer is 63, and patients are often older when they're diagnosed with prostate cancer. The treatments are very tolerable, generally.

Sometimes we will use chemotherapy, and then that becomes a little more difficult as you get older to tolerate. So he should be able to tolerate the treatment well. And he's -- it has a very high efficacy, meaning that it should work very well.

CHURCH: And do you see the likelihood of a speedy and full recovery here for Joe Biden?

RABINOWITZ: Well, the treatment of prostate cancer, once it's spread, is the goal is to control the disease. Once it's spread, we can't cure the disease.

[03:10:01]

So his treatment will be what we call palliative, meaning we're just going to we're attempting to manage the disease with a series of treatments throughout his journey.

CHURCH: And of course, many men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. So the complication here really is that it's spread to his bones. And how long does that process take? Are you surprised that we're just hearing this diagnosis now?

RABINOWITZ: Well, I mean, the time frame can be quite bearable. His prostate cancer, as mentioned on the program is has a Gleason 9, which means that his cells are very abnormal, and very fast growing. So for him, it likely spread really quickly, and it tends to be quite aggressive.

So treatment -- starting treatment relatively soon will be of great importance and can often help control it very well.

CHURCH: And how often have you treated men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and the spread to their bones?

RABINOWITZ: Oh, I see patients almost every day who have prostate cancer that have spread to parts of their body. Prostate cancer, the most common place that spreads is to the bones.

CHURCH: Dr. Max Rabinowitz, thank you so much for talking with us. We appreciate it.

RABINOWITZ: Oh, it's been my pleasure. Thank you.

CHURCH: Thank you.

Well, still to come, Republican lawmakers make headway on a bill causing infighting within their own party. We'll tell you about the changes hardliners are demanding.

Plus, President Donald Trump will speak with Russia's Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine in the coming hours. What we could expect from that discussion. That's just ahead.

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CHURCH: Authorities in New York are working to move a Mexican Navy training ship so it can be repaired. While they plan their next steps, officials are investigating what caused the vessel to crash into the Brooklyn Bridge late Saturday.

Early evidence suggests there was a mechanical issue with the ship's rudder. The captain has said they lost power and he was unable to steer. Mexican officials have now identified the two people who were killed during the collision after they fell from one of the ship's masts.

The first victim was a cadet, America Yamilet Sanchez, and the second a sailor, Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos. Many of the remaining crew members are set to return to Mexico in the coming days.

In a rare late night vote, a key House committee advanced the U.S. President's so-called One Big Beautiful Bill. It's an important step to passing Donald Trump's agenda and comes after a group of Republican hardliners blocked it from advancing on Friday. The bill now moves to the House Rules Committee, but some lawmakers say there's still a lot of work to be done.

CNN's Julia Benbrook has more details.

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JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: House Speaker Mike Johnson and members of his leadership team spent the weekend trying to convince the handful of GOP hardliners who opposed advancing President Donald Trump's big agenda bill on Friday to turn around and support it during a rare Sunday night vote.

Among the demands, the hardliners were making deeper cuts to a clean energy tax program, as well as stricter overhauls on Medicaid, specifically looking at work requirements being enacted sooner instead of waiting until 2029.

Now, in an interview that aired on Fox News prior to that late weekend vote, Johnson said that he thought weekend negotiations were, quote, "going well." He indicated that there could be a compromise on the work requirement timeline, but added that he has concerns about making sure that the states have enough time to implement any changes.

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA), SPEAKER OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: The concern is what we're trying to work with is the ability of the states to retool their systems and ensure the verification process is to make sure that all the new laws and all the new safeguards that we're placing can actually be -- to be enforced. And so we're working through all those details and we'll get it done.

BENBROOK: Johnson has set a lofty goal of getting this to the floor for a full house vote before Memorial Day. Now, even if that does end up happening, it could still face a lot of challenges in the Senate, where several Republican lawmakers have already voiced concerns.

Trump's message in all of this has remained consistent. He is calling on his party to unite around it, even writing on social media, quote, "We don't need grandstanders in the Republican Party. Stop talking and get it done."

Reporting in Washington, Julia Benbrook, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Earlier, I spoke with Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, about the issues President Trump has faced to get Republicans to line up behind his budget plan. We will have that in just a moment. But I began by asking Larry for his reaction to the news of Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis amid renewed scrutiny over his health while in office.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA-CENTER FOR POLITICS: Well, we certainly hope he can recover or at least live as long as possible with this disease. But I think the most important thing about it is it may dampen some of the backlash and criticism that Biden has been enduring the last few weeks. It's difficult to criticize someone in this condition.

I think he'll also take a line out of virtually every Donald Trump statement about everything, which is it's Biden's fault. I think it's going to be very tough for him to use that for a while. And he sent out a nice post wishing him well so perhaps that will indicate change in tone, at least for the time being.

CHURCH: And as we mentioned, Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis comes at a time when the decline of the former president's physical and mental health has been in the spotlight. And as the Democrats struggled to find a new leader capable of going up against Donald Trump, how big a political crisis are the Democrats facing right now?

SABATO: It's a serious one, and they need to wind it up mainly before they get into the real presidential season, which actually won't start until shortly after the midterms. So they've got a while.

[03:20:08]

And the only way out is to admit that they were wrong to encourage Biden to run, and Biden was wrong to run. He even without this cancer diagnosis, it was already pretty clear that he was in no position and no state to run for another four years and to serve potentially until the age of 86.

Get it behind them. That's what they need to do. Some are realizing that others haven't awakened to that reality.

CHURCH: And meantime, Republicans are dealing with their own problems with considerable infighting as negotiations continue over President Trump's agenda package. Speaker Mike Johnson wants this passed by the House by Memorial Day on Thursday, May 26.

But a group of hardline Republicans want deeper cuts to a clean energy tax program and stricter overhauls on Medicaid, specifically work requirements. They blocked this on Friday. So how likely is it that Speaker Johnson can get this done? And if he does, what will be the likely consequences of what Donald Trump calls his Big, Beautiful Bill?

SABATO: Well, finally, the Republican factions are emerging, and they're all over the map. You mentioned the right-wingers who are concerned about work requirements for Medicaid and food stamps.

And also there are moderates, relative moderates from California and New York who actually are the majority makers. The Republicans only have a majority of five. If they didn't have relatively moderate members in their caucus from California and New York, they wouldn't be able to do anything because they'd be in the minority.

And they're demanding other tax breaks that benefit them, which the right wingers don't like. So the factions are not going to agree on a lot of this. And they're all concerned about the fact that this is adding potentially trillions of dollars to the national debt when they've said they wouldn't do that.

But you know what, Rosemary, this is going to pass in some form, whether it's before Memorial Day or after Memorial Day, because they have no choice. The entire domestic agenda of Donald Trump is wrapped into this quote, "Big, Beautiful Bill." They have to pass it.

CHURCH: Right. And Larry, the Budget Committee vote late Sunday was a test for Donald Trump's agenda after the setback on Friday, with those hardliners blocking the bill from advancing out of committee. So what pressure might President Trump have brought to bear on those hardline Republicans, do you think?

SABATO: Well, apparently he didn't make direct calls, or at least that's what we're being led to believe. But he certainly had people from the White House working with them.

And naturally, they're all saying, I'm an absolute no on this bill if I don't get ABC. And then somebody down the hall says, and I'm an absolute no if I don't get X, Y and Z. That's what they always say and do.

And it's just negotiating tactics. And in the end, they're going to have to compromise again, because they have no choice.

CHURCH: And if this bill gets through the House on Thursday, it still has to get through the Senate, where inevitably, more changes might be called for and made. And the longer this goes on, the more likely President Trump will have to deal with this infighting.

But once that gets done, however long it takes, it will deliver tax cuts to Americans. How might that turn around the current lack of trust in Donald Trump as president for many American voters?

SABATO: Well, it takes a while for tax cuts to prove themselves and to be evident to most Americans. I don't know that it will make that much of a difference right now, because people are still concerned about prices and tariffs and potential recession. So that's what they're focused on. But certainly for Trump to have a chance of recovering some of the popularity that he's already lost, he has to get the bill passed.

And as I say, the bill will be passed. And actually, his ace in the hole is the Senate, because the Senate is famous for jamming things down the House under these circumstances. There's really nothing the House can do in the end, except pass what the Senate sends to them once they do a bit more negotiating.

CHURCH: Larry Sabato, always great to have you with us. I appreciate your analysis.

SABATO: Thank you, Rosemary.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: President Trump isn't only trying to negotiate with Republicans, he'll also be speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin later today, to try and convince him to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Salma Abdelaziz joins us now live from London. Good morning to you, Salma. So what more are you learning about President Trump's upcoming call with Russia's President Putin and of course, expectations?

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, in President Trump's own words, this conversation will be about what he calls, quote, "the bloodbath in Ukraine," attempting to start a peace process, which he has made no secret of that he wants this war over yesterday.

[03:25:02]

Yet attempts again, to begin those negotiations have faltered, especially last week, after President Putin responded to a European demand for a 30-day ceasefire with a call for a direct meeting in Turkey, that he later decided he did not want to attend himself, although President Trump made multiple offers to go to Turkey to be there in person.

But the conclusion that President Trump drew from days of back-and- forth, days of uncertainty is that he is the man, the dealmaker, as he sees himself who could start these talks. Take a listen to how his envoy, Steve Witkoff, explained it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE WITKOFF, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY: The President has a force of personality that is unmatched. I think it's important his sensibilities are that he's got to get on the phone with President Putin.

And that is going to clear up some of the logjam and get us to the place that we need to get to. And I think it's going to be a very successful call.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: Now, one of the things on Friday that President Trump said on Air Force One as those talks were unfolding in Turkey was that only a face-to-face meeting between himself and President Trump would resolve this crisis. So one could expect that potentially the call would include discussions of a summit somewhere down the line. Clear, important for me to note here that President Putin has not publicly agreed to that meeting in any way.

Now the technical details, the call is supposed to take place at 10 a.m. Eastern Time between President Trump and President Putin. After that call, he will also speak to President Zelenskyy. And then there should be a wider call with NATO leaders as well.

And that part is key, Rosemary. European leaders have been trying to build this pressure around President Trump. Their fear, not only theirs, but also Kyiv's fear is that negotiations may take place without Ukraine at all, that President Putin may work with President Trump to sideline Ukraine and ultimately deal a major blow to that country's sovereignty.

So European leaders are going to be appealing to President Trump to make sure that Ukraine is at the table and to push for that 30-day ceasefire because there is this concern that President Putin is not serious about peace. And so that 30-day ceasefire is supposed to be the litmus test as to whether or not the Kremlin takes seriously these overtures for negotiation. But one thing we do know that happened over the weekend and take that as a sign is the largest drone attack ever occurred in Ukraine, more than 270 drones fired by Russia at Ukraine.

CHURCH: And Salma, what more can you tell us about that? The biggest drone attack on Ukraine?

ABDELAZIZ: Absolutely devastating for Ukrainians. Several casualties among those victims was a four year old child who was wounded. It is something that President Zelenskyy points to time and time again in his discussions with President Trump is these kinds of wide scale attacks that often occur on civilian areas that occur in the middle of the night when people are in their homes. And these attacks are not slowing down.

Just as I mentioned, the largest drone attack seen since the start of the war over the weekend, more than 270 Shahed drones fired at Ukraine. You also have to remember what's happening on the battlefield there, Rosemary, Russian troops have been advancing. They have been able to solidify gains.

So there's also concerns that President Putin is just winding down the clock, that he's taking this as an opportunity to make those advances, strengthen his position on the negotiating table and ultimately demand more of Ukraine's sovereignty when it comes to those conversations with President Trump.

That's why one of the critical things European leaders are going to call for today is that 30 day ceasefire, something that President Putin has been brushing off. So it will be very critical to see whether President Trump makes that a priority, that litmus test, that show of good faith from President Putin or if he's more focused on that face-to-face meeting, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Salma Abdelaziz, joining us live from London. Many thanks for that report. I appreciate it.

And more on our breaking news just ahead. Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis, what we're learning and how those in Washington are reacting to the news.

And amid those well-wishers calls for compassion amid Joe Biden's health crisis, why one historian says now is the time to focus on the former president's recovery, not judge his legacy.

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[03:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHURCH: Welcome back to "CNN Newsroom." I'm Rosemary Church. I want to check today's top stories for you.

Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. That news coming in a statement from his personal office which says the cancer has spread to his bones. Mr. Biden, who is now 82, is reviewing treatment options.

U.S. President Donald Trump will speak with Russia's President by phone today. This comes after Russia launched its largest ever drone attack on Ukraine in the war.

Mexican officials have identified the two people who died aboard a Navy training ship after it collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday. The first victim was a cadet, America Yamilet Sanchez, and the second a sailor, Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos. New York authorities are still investigating what caused the ship to crash.

More now on former President Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis. While a serious concern, this type of cancer can be treated and managed.

CNN spoke with a doctor not involved in Mr. Biden's case who says while it has no cure, new therapies have been able to extend the lives of patients. But whatever method the Bidens choose, results will take time. The family are not strangers to the disease having lost their son Beau to brain cancer in 2015.

News of Joe Biden's diagnosis comes as more questions were being asked about his health while in office. Earlier, CNN's Jeff Zeleny spoke about the reaction from Washington.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (on the phone): Reaching out to many Biden associates and there are legions of people who have worked for Joe Biden from, you know, a half century of his time in Washington from the Senate to the vice presidency to the presidency. Look, everyone is, the news is shocking, there's no doubt, and people are saddened by it. But it's just so Shakespearean that it is coming at a time when there are so many questions about his capacity as president, his decision to keep going forward, and so many what ifs.

What if he had run in 2016? What if he had just retired to public life after he was given that Medal of Freedom by President Obama and gone to his private life? What would the country be like now?

But I think at this moment, even seeing the well wishes and thoughtful notes coming in from his successor, obviously has had very few kind words to say about Joe Biden, but Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump obviously sending their best wishes. I think that is the best sign, the biggest sign that we can see that really everyone is, you know, in America and leaders around the world who have relations with him are hoping the best for him. So we will see what his treatment is. Obviously, this is something

that the Biden family has been through many challenges, many health challenges. And this is just the latest in that.

But it just as questions, this is not going to take away from the questions that are being rightly asked about the people around him who urged him to run for reelection. Those still exist. This is just one more chapter, I guess, to his storyline.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN Presidential Historian Tim Naftali looked back at the many personal challenges Joe Biden has faced over the years. He says rather than speculate about what could have happened in a second Biden term, now is the time to wish him a speedy recovery.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM NAFTALI, CNN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: My reaction is that of someone reacting to a human tragedy. Of course, there will be a lot of time to process what could have been, what might have been, of course, if President Biden had been reelected, we would now be undergoing a presidential health crisis.

And that is one of the risks when we elect elderly people to the presidency. But there will be a lot of time for that kind of analysis. There's a lot of time to rethink the 2024 election and the mistakes, the challenges and the risks that were taken, and the consequences.

There will be -- there are books now important books that have been written, there will be more books that will be written. But at this moment, this is a time to think about a longtime public servant, the last of a generation who has given his all to this country. And the mistakes he made, and we could debate them, were out of love for this country.

And at this moment, let's just think about his well-being that of his family and hope that he gets better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Hillary Clinton is wishing Joe Biden a speedy and full recovery. She served as secretary of state while Mr. Biden was Vice President. In a statement on social media, Clinton said, quote, "I am thinking of the Bidens as they take on cancer, a disease they've done so much to try to spare other families from." Joe Biden spearheaded the Obama administration's so called moonshot initiative, which aimed to accelerate cancer research and lower the death rate from the disease.

There's been an outpouring of bipartisan support on Capitol Hill following Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson called it sad news saying his family will be joining the countless others who are praying for the former president, Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene also offering prayers and saying, quote, "Cancer is truly awful. My dad passed away in 2021 with cancer."

And Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote on social media, quote, "Joe Biden has worked for years to advance the cause of beating cancer. And now we have his back in this fight."

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance attended Pope Leo's inaugural mass on Sunday, and today he met with the new pontiff. Details of the meeting just ahead.

Plus, days after intensifying airstrikes in Gaza, Israeli forces are beginning an extensive ground operation in several parts of the enclave. Details of those operations, just ahead.

[03:40:04]

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CHURCH: U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Francis -- Pope Leo today. They had attended the pontiff's inaugural mass on Sunday and were seen shaking hands with him afterwards. Vance was also seen greeting other world leaders before the start of the service on Sunday.

And our Ben Wedeman has been following these developments. He joins us now from Rome with the very latest. So, Ben, what more are you learning about the pope's meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance?

BEN WEDEMANN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Rosemary, well, the Vatican has yet to actually comment on whether a meeting took place officially. However, what we know is from the pool reporters traveling with the vice president's entourage is that at 7:56 local time, that's just a little less than two hours ago, Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived at the Vatican, met with Pope Leo, and the meeting lasted approximately 45 minutes, according to the pool reports. We don't know what they discussed.

Now, this is the second pope J.D. Vance has met in the last month, keeping in mind that on the 20th of April, the U.S. Vice President was one of the last VIPs to meet Pope Francis, who died the following morning.

Now, of course, he did meet with Pope Leo yesterday. Very briefly, according to some reports, just 17 seconds, they shook hands and exchanged greetings while J.D. Vance was at the installment ceremony in St. Peter's Square.

And then, of course, they did meet this morning, but we're waiting for details. But certainly, what we know is that they don't see eye to eye these two men on many issues, including things like immigration.

[03:45:02]

And what we heard from Pope Leo yesterday in his homily in St. Peter's Square during the inauguration ceremony was that he said that the pope needs to be close to his flock without ever yielding to the temptation to be an autocrat or lording it over those entrusted to him. He went on to say that the church should not close itself off into our small groups or feeling superior to others. So clearly, they don't share the same worldview.

But J.D. Vance, who describes himself as a recent convert to Catholicism, clearly is somebody who the White House is hoping will build bridges to the Vatican, keeping in mind that back in April, on the 20th of April, when J.D. Vance went to the Vatican, Pope Francis wasn't well enough to have a long meeting with him.

But the Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, did meet with J.D. Vance and apparently gave him a lecture on the importance of compassion. Rosemary?

CHURCH: All right, our thanks to Ben Wedeman joining us live there from Rome with that report. I appreciate it.

Well, mixed messages coming from Hamas' upper ranks on Sunday. A senior Hamas leader told CNN the militant group had agreed to release up to nine Israeli hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 300 Palestinian prisoners. But just hours later, another senior leader denied that proposal.

Israel says it will allow, quote, "a basic amount of food to enter Gaza," as a U.N.-backed report warns the enclave remains at critical risk of famine and Israel's 11-week aid blockade. And Israel is pushing ahead with its new offensive called Gideon's Chariots in the enclave.

We want to go live now to Nada Bashir in London. So, Nada, what more can you tell us about Israel's ground operations in Gaza?

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, Rosemary, this extensive ground operation, which will be focusing on both northern and southern Gaza, comes at a time where the situation faced by civilians across the Gaza Strip grows increasingly desperate.

Now, the Israeli military has said it is pushing forward with efforts to secure and achieve all of its military objectives, including the release of all remaining hostages, the defeat of Hamas, and now expanding operational control over the territory through what they have described as the segmentation of the Gaza Strip and the relocation of civilians, they say, for their protection.

But as we have seen throughout this war, it is civilians that are bearing the brunt of this military campaign. And this expanded ground operation comes off the back of an intensified air assault by the Israeli military, which we have seen ramping up since Thursday. Hundreds of people, civilians killed, according to Gaza's health ministry, hundreds more injured.

And what we have also seen over the course of the last few days is the targeting once again of civilian areas, including the Al-Mawasi coastal area, a displacement camp, which, of course, is known to be housing thousands of displaced civilians, as well as health care facilities, including the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza. This was, of course, the last remaining hospital that was somewhat functional in northern Gaza.

And we have seen videos, reports emerging of civilians, patients being evacuated or attempting to evacuate from the hospital grounds, some of them still in their hospital beds, as well as reports of patients being left behind in intensive care units. Now, we have been hearing firmer, starker language from human rights officials, including the U.N.'s own human rights chief, Volker Turk, who has described this intensified bombing campaign by the Israeli military as akin to ethnic cleansing.

Take a listen to this one account from a civilian who, like so many others, had been displaced to the Al-Mawasi coastal area.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN (through translator): We came to the Al-Mawasi, they followed us. Our house was destroyed. All our homes were gone, nothing is left for us.

May God have mercy on us. We are fed up, we need a solution, people. Shame on you.

We are fed up, we cannot live any longer. My heart can't handle any more.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASHIR: Of course, it's important to underscore that this is an area, the Al-Mawasi coastal area, that has previously and repeatedly been designated as a safe zone by the Israeli military. That is clearly not the case.

And important to note, of course, that civilians in Gaza have faced a weeks-long blockade. That means no food, no humanitarian aid getting into the strip. But, of course, yesterday, the Israeli prime minister's office did say that they would begin to allow a basic amount of food into Gaza, they say, for operational needs and to avoid a hunger crisis.

[03:50:03]

But as we've been hearing those warnings for weeks now from the United Nations, that Gaza's population, 2.1 million people, are at risk of famine. Rosemary.

CHURCH: Nada Bashir with that report in London. Many thanks.

And we'll be right back.

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CHURCH: The world's number one golfer, Scottie Scheffler, has won his first PGA Championship. He finished the tournament at 11 under par Sunday, securing his third career major title.

CNN's Patrick Snell was in Charlotte, North Carolina, for Sunday's final round and caught up with Scheffler.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATIRCK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: American golfing superstar Scottie Scheffler is celebrating his third career major after sealing a triumphant five-shot victory here at the PGA Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. A short time after his victory, I caught up with Scotty and I asked him to reflect on his momentous win.

Scottie, many congratulations. A remarkable achievement. I will say, though, at times on the front nine, you looked a bit like a boxer on the ropes.

How did you manage to regroup, get yourself back together, whilst fighting all that emotion as well, en route to your third major title?

[03:55:02]

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER, 2025 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER: Yes, I think that's a good description. I felt a little like I was on the ropes a little bit. This golf course will keep you on your toes.

It was weird because by the time, like 7, 8, 9, I felt like I hit really good tee shots and I looked up and it was just like 30 yards left to where I was looking, which was a bit unusual.

But making the turn, I kind of squared my shoulders up and I hit a really good tee ball on 10, a really good tee ball on 11. And after that, I really did a good job executing, hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens and played a really good nine holes when I really needed to.

SNELL: It's been a meteoric journey for you over the last three years, talking big picture now, your first PGA Tour title, the wonderful moment as well, you become a father and now your third career major. How do you reflect on that journey and how would you describe what it's actually been like for you? Give us a sense on that.

SCHEFFLER: Yes, that's a great question. I mean, it's really hard to put into words. Mary and I were talking this morning, we still feel like we're in high school. It felt like we were in high school yesterday.

We just started dating and all of a sudden, life out here is pretty cool right now. This is a lot of fun. But at the end of the day, life at home for us is pretty much the same.

We have a good little life and we have great friends at home and I'm looking forward to getting home and celebrating them.

SNELL: So Scheffler now adds the famed Wanamaker Trophy to his collection of two Masters titles, two coveted green jackets and now his sights will firmly train on next month's U.S. Open at Oakmont.

Patrick Snell, CNN, Charlotte, North Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE) CHURCH: Thanks so much for your company, I'm Rosemary Church, in Atlanta. Have yourselves a wonderful day. "Early Start" with Rahel Solomon in New York is next.

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