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John Paul II gunman lays flowers at Vatican tomb John Paul II gunman lays flowers at Vatican tomb
(about 3 hours later)
VATICAN CITY — The man who tried to kill Pope John Paul II more than 33 years ago showed up at the Vatican on Saturday to put white roses on the pontiff’s tomb. Mehmet Ali Agca said he wanted to meet Pope Francis.VATICAN CITY — The man who tried to kill Pope John Paul II more than 33 years ago showed up at the Vatican on Saturday to put white roses on the pontiff’s tomb. Mehmet Ali Agca said he wanted to meet Pope Francis.
Agca left John Paul critically injured after firing several shots in the assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square on May 13, 1981. The pope, who died in April 2005, forgave Agca, once a member of the Turkish far-right group the Grey Wolves, and visited him in 1983 at the prison in Rome where he was incarcerated. Agca left John Paul critically injured after firing several shots in the assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square on May 13, 1981. The pope, who died in April 2005, forgave Agca, once a member of the far-right Turkish group the Grey Wolves, and visited him in 1983 at the prison in Rome where he was incarcerated.
Agca called the Italian daily la Repubblica on Saturday to announce he had arrived in the Vatican, exactly 31 years after the prison visit by John Paul, who was canonized in April.Agca called the Italian daily la Repubblica on Saturday to announce he had arrived in the Vatican, exactly 31 years after the prison visit by John Paul, who was canonized in April.
The Rev. Ciro Benedettini, the Vatican’s deputy spokesman, said Agca stood for a few moments in silent meditation over the tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica before he left two bunches of white roses.The Rev. Ciro Benedettini, the Vatican’s deputy spokesman, said Agca stood for a few moments in silent meditation over the tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica before he left two bunches of white roses.
As for meeting Francis, the Vatican on Saturday gave a cool response.As for meeting Francis, the Vatican on Saturday gave a cool response.
“He has put his flowers on John Paul’s tomb; I think that is enough,” the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, told la Repubblica.“He has put his flowers on John Paul’s tomb; I think that is enough,” the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, told la Repubblica.
When Agca, a Turk, was apprehended after shooting the pontiff, he said he acted alone. Later he suggested that Bulgaria and the Soviet secret services masterminded the attack on John Paul, whose championing of the Polish Solidarity labor movement alarmed Moscow.When Agca, a Turk, was apprehended after shooting the pontiff, he said he acted alone. Later he suggested that Bulgaria and the Soviet secret services masterminded the attack on John Paul, whose championing of the Polish Solidarity labor movement alarmed Moscow.
At John Paul’s urging, Agca, now 56, was pardoned by Italy in 2000.At John Paul’s urging, Agca, now 56, was pardoned by Italy in 2000.
He was extradited to Turkey, where he was imprisoned for the 1979 murder of a journalist and other crimes. He was released in 2010.He was extradited to Turkey, where he was imprisoned for the 1979 murder of a journalist and other crimes. He was released in 2010.