states and all around the world. i m paula newton ahead right here on cnn newsroom hope francis is presiding over easter mass. at the vatican, where thousands have gathered for celebration. but in the middle east religious events this weekend are being marred by ongoing violence. we are alive in jerusalem and beirut for the latest, and we ll take a closer look. at that abortion drug that s at the center of two opposing court rulings in the united states. live from cnn center. this is cnn newsroom with paula neeson. but first it is easter sunday, the holiest day of the christian calendar. celebrating with the bible says was the resurrection of jesus. thousands of the faithful have converged on st peter s square for easter mass. currently underway. you see it there. francis is presiding over the service. now he did not walk in the traditional procession, but instead arrived in a wheelchair . you will soon deliver his traditional easter blessing. the 86 year old pontiff has been
the united states and around the world. i m christine romans. this is early start a busy morning. we begin with breaking news. a short time ago, a federal appeals court took action to keep the abortion pill mifepristone on the market. the court blocked the parts of a texas judge order that would have suspended fda approval of the drug. now the fda approval will stay in effect, while the court considers an expedited appeal. but important here, the fifth circuit appeals court is leaving in place parts of the ruling that will, in effect, make the pill harder to get. the fda tried to ease access in recent years by allowing the drug to be mailed and by approving a generic version. for now, those changes that make it easier for people to get the drug. those changes remain suspended. this medication has been approved as safe and effective for uses an abortion pill for more than two decades. but it s possible removal from pharmacies could affect every american senior medical correspo
seussical companies might say, wait a minute. we re investing millions and millions of dollars. dollars into research and development for drugs. the fda looks at it. they re outside advisers. all these scientists look at it. and now we need to worry that a single judge, not even a scientist, that a single judge can just pull it off the market. it could definitely discourage them from investigating and from researching new drugs, and that could affect us all back to you . alright repeating the breaking news overnight and appeals court has partially frozen that texas judge s order. it keeps me fit kristen available while the full appeals process plays out, but the judges blocked the drug for being sent to patients through the mail blocks some aspects that make it easier to get this drug right now to severe flooding overnight in south florida that is shut down fort lauderdale s airport until noon today, the national weather service, calling it a once in 50 year event, declaring us a flash
of abortions in the u. s they re done with medication. they re done with pills. they re not done by surgery. and if we take a look at safety, these pills have an excellent safety profile. if you look at me for kristen. for every million women who take it. there will be five deaths. if you look at penicillin for every million people who take it, there will be 20 deaths. if you look at viagra for every million patients that take it, there will be 49 deaths. if the ruling from the texas judge stance that means that women across the country will lose access to this medication. in addition, there could be another effect if the judge s ruling stands from a suitable companies might say, wait a minute. we re investing millions and millions of dollars. dollars into research and development for drugs. the fda looks at it. they re outside advisers. all these scientists look at it. and now we need to worry that a single judge, not even a scientist, that a single judge can just pull it off the mark