Assassin Ali Agca expresses interest in praying at Pope Francis' tomb
Don't Miss Out on the unusual twist to the Pope's Funeral
In a surprising turn of events, Mehmet Ali Agca, the dissident who tried to take down Pope John Paul II, expressed his desire to pray at Pope Francis' grave in Santa Maria Maggiore. Initially planning to attend Pope Francis' funeral in Rome, Agca had a change of heart, fearing his presence might cause a ruckus.
As confirmed by Italian lawyer Riccardo Sindoca, Agca made a plea to Italian and Vatican authorities for permission to attend the Pontiff's funeral, only to subsequently back out, citing concerns that his presence on St. Peter's Square could be exploited. Agca instead expressed his intention to visit Rome at a later date to pay his respects at Pope Francis' grave, fulfilling a solemn promise.
A Reminder of the Past
Plunging back to the past, Agca infamously shot and injured Pope John Paul II during an audience on St. Peter's Square in May 1981. However, in an unexpected twist, the Polish Pope paid Agca a visit at Rome's prison in 1983 and granted him forgiveness.
Sentenced to life imprisonment following the attack, Agca served 19 years in Italy before being granted amnesty, making way for his transfer to Turkey. He spent more time in Turkish prisons before becoming a free man in 2010.
Unresolved Mysteries
To this day, the reasons behind Agca's attempt on the life of Pope John Paul II remain shrouded in mystery. Agca has provided contradictory statements regarding his motivations, leading many to speculate that he was hired by Bulgarian and Soviet secret services to assassinate the Pope, due to his staunch opposition to the communist regime.
As of now, there is no information available about Agca's intended visit to Rome or his interaction with Pope Francis' funeral, given that no such event occurred at the stated time.
The dissident, Mehmet Ali Agca, who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II and later met with him in jail, initially planned to attend Pope Francis' funeral in Rome but later declined due to fear of causing disturbances.
Agca, who shot Pope John Paul II on St. Peter's Square in 1981, expressed a desire to visit Rome again and pray at Pope Francis' grave, fulfilling a promise he made.
Despite his change of plans, the reasons behind Agca's attack on Pope John Paul II remain unclear, with contradictory statements and rumors suggesting involvement from Bulgarian and Soviet secret services.
No reports have emerged about Agca's intended visit to Rome or his connection to Pope Francis' funeral, as the event in question did not take place.
