Assailant of Pope John Paul II expelled from Turkish town before Leo's visit: reports

Turkish media reported that the man responsible for the 1981 attack on Pope John Paul II was removed from the town of Iznik on Thursday ahead of Pope Leo XIV's scheduled visit.

In May 1981, Mehmet Ali Agca, a Turkish national, fired multiple shots at Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, leaving the pontiff gravely injured.

On Thursday, Agca told Turkish news outlets that he wished to meet Pope Leo XIV for two or three minutes. However, he was escorted out before the pope arrived, according to Halk TV.

After the assassination attempt, Agca received a life sentence in Italy but eventually served his time in Ankara, Turkey. He was released in January 2010 after spending 29 years in prison. In December 1983, Pope John Paul II visited him in jail, during which Agca expressed remorse for the attack but did not clarify his reasons.

While in Iznik, Agca stated that he hoped to welcome the pope and mentioned a desire to talk with him briefly, either in Iznik or Istanbul.

Pope Leo XIV is currently visiting Turkey on his first international trip as the head of the Catholic Church. His visit to Iznik coincides with the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a historic 325 AD gathering of bishops that established a core statement of Christian faith.

Analysis: Mehmet Ali Agca's Attempt to Meet Pope Leo XIV

The recent developments surrounding Mehmet Ali Agca, the man responsible for the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, highlight an interesting intersection of history, personal redemption, and political dynamics. On Thursday, Agca was removed from Iznik ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s scheduled visit. The Turkish media reported that Agca had expressed his desire to meet the Pope for a brief conversation, signaling a desire for reconciliation, or at the very least, a personal encounter after decades of separation. However, this meeting was not meant to happen.

Agca, who shot Pope John Paul II in 1981, served nearly 30 years in prison and was released in 2010. After his release, he claimed that he had repented for his actions, though his reasons for attempting to kill the Pope remain unclear. His public statements over the years have ranged from expressions of regret to cryptic remarks, leaving many to question his true motives.

The timing of his desire to meet Pope Leo XIV is significant. The Pope's visit to Iznik marks a momentous occasion, the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a critical event in Christian history. Agca’s attempt to insert himself into this historical context raises questions about his intentions: Is he genuinely seeking forgiveness, or is this a calculated move to remain in the public eye, given the global attention surrounding the Pope's visit to Turkey?

The decision to remove Agca from the area ahead of the Pope’s arrival underscores the delicate balance of managing security and maintaining diplomatic relations. Given Agca’s notorious past, it is not surprising that authorities would take extra precautions to prevent any encounter that might distract from the significance of the Pope’s trip. While Agca's past actions cannot be erased, his continued presence in the public sphere serves as a reminder of unresolved tensions from a dark chapter in history.

Sources:

• Attacker of Pope John Paul II removed from Turkish town ahead of Leo's visit: media