Weekend Reflections: Professional Assassin Mehmet Ali Agca Who Shot Pope John Paul II, Renounces Islam And Embraces The Catholic Faith.

Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turkish gunman who shot Pope John Paul II in 1981, wants to convert to Christianity, according to his lawyer. Agca, seen in 2000, served 19 years in an Italian prison for the attack on the pontiff. He's currently in prison in Turkey for killing a journalist, a slaying that came before the attack on the pope. He is due to be released at the start of next year.

Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turkish gunman who shot Pope John Paul II in 1981, wants to convert to Christianity, according to his lawyer. Agca, seen in 2000, served 19 years in an Italian prison for the attack on the pontiff. He’s currently in prison in Turkey for killing a journalist, a slaying that came before the attack on the pope. He is due to be released at the start of next year.

ANKARA, Turkey May 13 — The gunman who shot Pope John Paul II says he would like to convert to Christianity at a baptism ceremony at the Vatican after his release from prison in January.

Update: Agca says he is now a Catholic – CathNews

800px-PapalAssassinationAttemptSite — The location of the shooting, marked by a stone tablet, in St. Peter’s Square
Location St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City
Date 13 May 1981
Target Pope John Paul II
Attack type Shooting
Weapon(s) Browning Hi-Power
Injured 3
Perpetrator Mehmet Ali Ağca (Grey Wolves)

Pope John Paul II was shot four times at point blank range, by professional assassin Mehmet Ali Agca of Turkey. Ağca was apprehended immediately, and later sentenced to life in prison by an Italian court. The Pope later forgave Ağca for the assassination attempt. He was pardoned by Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi at the Pope’s request and was deported to Turkey in June 2000.

In comments relayed by his lawyer on Wednesday, Mehmet Ali Agca also says he wants to visit the grave of Pope John Paul II, meet with Pope Benedict XVI and produce a television documentary on the Vatican.