Pope Leo XIV prays at the spot where St. John Paul II was shot
Vatican News • • world
Key Points:
- On May 13, Pope Leo XIV commemorated the 45th anniversary of the assassination attempt on St. John Paul II, stopping to kneel at the exact spot where the attack occurred in 1981.
- The Pope dedicated his catechesis to the Blessed Virgin Mary, emphasizing her role in preserving John Paul II's life through her intercession.
- Pope Leo XIV urged pilgrims and the faithful to turn to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, highlighting its message of peace and unity amid global conflicts.
- The 1981 attack involved Mehmet Ali Ağca shooting John Paul II at close range, seriously wounding him and leading to emergency surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
- Despite the attack, John Paul II publicly forgave Ağca, prayed for him, and reaffirmed his devotion to the Virgin Mary with the phrase "Totus tuus ego sum" ("I am entirely yours").