Assassination Attempt on John Paul II
1981 AD
π EVENTS
π About This Event
On May 13, 1981, the anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima, Turkish nationalist Mehmet Ali AΔca shot Pope John Paul II twice in St. Peter's Square. The bullets tore through the Pope's abdomen, causing massive internal bleeding. He underwent emergency surgery and was hospitalized for months. The assassination attempt shocked the world and strengthened the Pope's reputation as a man of extraordinary courage and forgiveness.
In 1983, John Paul II visited AΔca in prison and forgave him, saying: 'In the name of God, I forgive you.' The Pope believed that Our Lady of Fatima had saved his life, as the attempt occurred on the anniversary of the apparitions. He later wrote: 'The Mother of the Lord and Queen of Peace saved me.' Key sources: John Paul II's memoirs, Vatican archives
π Key Facts
Date
1981 AD
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Events
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