TWT #164 –

On June 13th, 2000, Italy pardoned Mehmet Ali Ağca, who had spent nearly 20 years in prison for his attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II… only to immediately deport Ağca to a Turkish prison.

If you had a choice between Italian prison or Turkish prison, which would you choose?

(After watching Midnight Express, I’m going Italian all the way, baby).

Alas, Mehmet Ali Ağca didn’t have a choice. Let’s set the stage:

In May of 1981, Ağca met an accomplice in St. Peter’s Square, each with a gun. As Pope John Paul II rode in on his popemobile, Ağca opened fire, hitting the Pope 4 times.

Obviously, with God on his side, the Pope was fine.

SAINT John Paul was shot FOUR times and was barely phased

The would-be-assassin however, was immediately caught and sentenced to life in prison.

Pope John, being the cool cat that he was, immediately forgave Ağca, visited him in prison and called for his pardon & release.

Exactly 19 years ago today, after rotting in prison for nearly 20 years, the Pope finally convinced the Italian president, Ciampi, to pardon Ağca…

…who was immediately deported to Turkey to go on trial for bank robbery and and a murder that took place in 1979.

Over the next decade or so, Ağca was tossed around the Turkish legal system. At one point in 2006 he was released… only to be sent back to prison eight days later.

Finally in 2010, Ağca was released for good, and has spent the last few years trying to meet Pope Francis… a request that was (for whatever reason) swiftly denied.

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