On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Ağca during his General Audience in St. Peter’s Square. The pontiff suffered two gunshot wounds but forgave his assailant from his hospital bed. After five hours of surgery, the pope survived and was released from the hospital in August 1981. The Vatican implemented stronger security measures, including the use of the “popemobile” to protect the pope during public appearances. Ali Ağca was sentenced to life in prison for the attempted murder.
In a surprising turn of events, Pope John Paul II met with Ali Ağca on December 27, 1983, and forgave him face to face. The pope emphasized the importance of fraternity and forgiveness, stating that all human beings are brothers. A photo of their encounter was featured on the cover of Time magazine with the headline “Why Forgive?” Ali Ağca’s motives for the shooting were linked to protesting against imperialism and genocide in various countries. After being pardoned by the Italian government at the pope’s request, Ali Ağca was extradited to Turkey and imprisoned for another crime.
Despite the traumatic experience, Pope John Paul II credited the Virgin Mary for saving his life, as the shooting occurred on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. He visited the Shrine of Fatima in Portugal on the anniversary of the shooting, thanking Our Lady for sparing his life and offering the bullet as a gesture of gratitude. The bullet was placed in the crown adorning a statue at the shrine as a symbol of the miraculous event. After surviving the assassination attempt, John Paul II continued to serve as pope for nearly 24 years until his death in 2005.
Pope John Paul II, along with his predecessor Pope John XIII, was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis in 2014. Despite facing near-death experiences, the pontiff remained committed to his message of love, peace, and forgiveness. Ali Ağca was released from prison in Turkey in 2010, marking the end of a chapter in the tumultuous history between the pope and his would-be assassin. The events of May 13, 1981, serve as a powerful reminder of the enduring power of forgiveness and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
