Why was Saint John Paul II shot?

Stone marking the site of the 1981 assassination attempt in St. Peter's Square. (Credit: 'ProhibitOnions', via Wikimedia Commons). Blogs | May. 13, 2017. Rare and Shocking Facts from the Assassination Attempt on John Paul II. read more

The first attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II took place on Wednesday, 13 May 1981, in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. The Pope was shot and wounded by Mehmet Ali Ağca while he was entering the square. The Pope was struck four times, and suffered severe blood loss. read more

Near the start of his weekly general audience in Rome's St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul II is shot and seriously wounded while passing through the square in an open car. read more

Their successes resulted in various assassination plots of which only that one of several against Pope John Paul II came close to succeeding. Using a Turk to make it look like a Muslim attack was standard disinformation and distraction. read more