Would-be papal assassin Mehmet Ali Agca expelled from Italy (visited Pope's grave)

religionnews.com ^ | December 29, 2014 | Josephine McKenna

[Straight Vermonter]

Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turkish man who tried to assassinate St. John Paul II in 1981, was expelled from Italy on Monday (Dec. 29) after paying a visit to the tomb of the Polish pontiff.

An Italian judge on Monday approved the expulsion of the former terrorist; he was scheduled to be sent back to Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight from Rome Monday night, police sources told the Italian news agency, ANSA.

Agca’s expulsion came two days after he placed flowers on the late pope’s tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday.

Agca, 56, served 19 years for his crime in Italy, where John Paul famously visited him in prison. He was then deported to his native Turkey, where he served further time for the murder of left-wing journalist Abdi Ipekci, who was killed in 1979.

“I would like to go to the tomb of John Paul II, who visited me in prison,” Agca told ANSA earlier this month. “I couldn’t go to his funeral so I would like to pay my respects to a spiritual brother.”

John Paul was left seriously injured by the attack as he toured the crowds in St. Peter’s Square when one bullet passed through his abdomen and another narrowly missed his heart. Vatican officials have rejected requests from Agca for a face-to-face meeting with Pope Francis.

Italian media on Monday questioned how Agca was allowed to land in Austria and enter Italy since he is banned from visiting either country until 2016.

[ansel12]

Did he ever get baptized?

[lee martell]

I too was surprised that he was strolling by The Vatican, without a care. Maybe the borders in that area are as porous and unsecure as our borders near Mexico. The fact that he sneaked in makes me wonder what his ultimate intention was.

[MeganC]

I doubt he sneaked in. He simply exploited the European aversion to questioning moslems for fear of being called ‘racist’. I’m sure he showed his passport when he landed in Austria but since there’s no border controls in the EU he just got on a train to Italy.

[livius]

I think he did. That’s probably why they’re deporting him. They don’t deport terrorists.

[Buckeye McFrog]

The story of JP II going to his prison cell to forgive him is one of the most powerful symbols of how Christ commands us to forgive one another.

[fatima]

Bump.

[jttpwalsh]

Christ commands us to forgive one another.

---

I always thought the Christian concept of forgiveness was just so much weakness, until it came time for me to forgive my transgressor. I learned that forgiveness was as much for me, as it was for the other person. A huge weight was immediately lifted from my shoulders.

[cherokee1]

There’s forgiveness and there’s willful ignorance of an on-going threat. Agca’s a Muzzie and so is commanded, if necessary, to lie about his intentions, etc., as required to accomplish his goal. The goal in this case was the killing of a Christian leader. Unless he’s renounced Islam then nothing else he says can be trusted. Up to that point he deserves killing first then, maybe, forgiving. Life is hard enough without getting sappy about a guy who put two bullet holes in a pope.

[Gay State Conservative]

IIRC the Pope was quite kind and forgiving toward Agca which,if I understand my Christian upbringing correctly,is consistent with Christ's teachings.And Agca’s having placed flowers at his grave suggests to me a man who is not beyond redemption.But,OTOH,it's easy to see why Italy would expel him....my guess is that he either entered Italy illegally or his actual identity wasn't immediately recognized.

[jttpwalsh]

Thanks for your reply.

[Squantos]

Over the Dolomites like Hannibal .........in a fiat 750’s trunk versus the elephant with a trunk.....

[Talisker]

There’s forgiveness and there’s willful ignorance of an on-going threat. Agca’s a Muzzie and so is commanded, if necessary, to lie about his intentions, etc., as required to accomplish his goal. The goal in this case was the killing of a Christian leader. Unless he’s renounced Islam then nothing else he says can be trusted. Up to that point he deserves killing first then, maybe, forgiving. Life is hard enough without getting sappy about a guy who put two bullet holes in a pope.

[ExGeeEye]

I understand he became Catholic in prison. My possibly faulty memory is that JPII baptized him personally.

I am eager to be corrected as necessary.

[Wilhelm Tell]

“I think he did. That’s probably why they’re deporting him. They don’t deport terrorists.”

Ah, that explains it! He was a terrorst but then repented and became a Christian. I am sure most EU nations would be very diligent in expelling someone like that - I mean, he gave up violence and became a Christian, what a horrible example. If he were a member of ISIS he would be more welcome.