Pope John Paul II was shot and critically wounded by Mehmet Ali Ağca, a Turkish gunman, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on May 13, 1981. The assassination attempt shocked the world and deeply affected the Catholic community. Pope John Paul II’s remarkable recovery and his subsequent forgiveness of his assailant were widely admired and reinforced his messages of peace and reconciliation. The motivations behind the attack remain the subject of much speculation and conspiracy theories, but it undeniably shaped the Pope’s legacy and influenced his focus on peace initiatives.
