When Pope John Paul II forgave the man who shot him
Dec. 28, 1983
Pope John Paul II visits his would-be assassin Mehmet Ali Ağca in prison.
IMAGE: KEYSTONE-FRANCE/GETTY IMAGES
On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was crossing St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City when an attempt was made on his life.
Mehmet Ali Ağca, who had escaped from a Turkish prison after receiving a life sentence for murdering a journalist, fired four shots with a 9-millimeter pistol. Two struck the pope in his lower intestine, one in his right arm and one in his left index finger. Two bystanders were also wounded.
Ağca’s accomplice, Oral Çelik, was supposed to set off a diversionary explosion to cover his escape, but lost his nerve and fled. Ağca was tackled and arrested while the pope was rushed to the hospital.
May 13, 1981
Pope John Paul II in agony after being shot.
IMAGE: TOMMY W. ANDERSEN/KEYSTONE/GETTY IMAGES
May 13, 1981
IMAGE: KEYSTONE/GETTY IMAGES
Despite severe blood loss, the pontiff survived, and asked for all Catholics to pray for Ağca, whom he had “sincerely forgiven.”
An Italian court sentenced Ağca to life in prison. The motive for the assassination attempt and its planners remains mysterious — theories and allegations have accused the CIA, the KGB, the Bulgarian government, the Turkish mafia and more.
In 1983, John Paul II visited his would-be assassin. They had a private conversation, and emerged as friends. The pope stayed in touch with Ağca’s family during the latter's incarceration, and in 2000 requested that he be pardoned.
The request was granted. Ağca was released and deported to Turkey, where he was imprisoned for the life sentence he had fled decades prior.
He converted to Christianity while incarcerated, and was finally released in 2010.
In December 2014, he returned to Rome and laid two dozen white roses at the pope’s tomb.
May 13, 1981
IMAGE: KEYSTONE/HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES
May 13, 1981
IMAGE: KEYSTONE/HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES
May 13, 1981
IMAGE: KEYSTONE/HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES
May 13, 1981
The pope is rushed to the hospital immediately after being shot.
May 13, 1981
IMAGE: KEYSTONE/HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES
May 13, 1981
IMAGE: NY DAILY NEWS ARCHIVE VIA GETTY IMAGES
May 14, 1981
A nun in St. Peter's Square prays for the pope's recovery.
IMAGE: TORONTO STAR/GETTY IMAGES
May 19, 1981
The Pope recuperates in the hospital six days after the shooting.
IMAGE: OSSERVATORE ROMANO ARTURO MARI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
1979
Mehmet Ali Ağca photographed in Turkey after being arrested for the murder of journalist Abdi Ipekçi.
May 14, 1981
Ağca is arraigned in court for the assassination attempt.
Dec. 28, 1983
The Pope visits Ağca in prison.
Dec. 28, 1983
Content created and supplied by: Danziglo (via Opera News )
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