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Attempted assassin of John Paul II visits former pope's tomb in Vatican

Mehmet Ali Agca was forgiven by Pope John Paul II after trying to take the former pontiff's life in 1981.

By Fred Lambert

VATICAN CITY, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The attempted assassin of John Paul II visited the late pope's tomb in Vatican City Saturday, laying roses over 30 years after the former pontiff forgave the man.

Turkish born Mehmet Ali Agca, 56, spent 19 years in an Italian prison after he shot Pope John Paul II multiple times in the mid-section at close range in May 1981.

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The pope survived and publicly forgave Agca, visiting him in prison in 1983. ''I spoke to him as I would speak to a brother whom I have forgiven and who enjoys my confidence," the former pope said at the time, according to the New York Times.

After receiving pressure from John Paul II, Italy's then-president pardoned Agca in 2000.

Agca was deported to Turkey, where he was sentenced to death for the earlier murder of a Turkish journalist. His sentence was later reduced to 10 years in prison.

Now a free man, Agca laid white roses at the former pontiff's tomb in St. Peter's Basilica Saturday, reportedly telling police of his need to do so. The gesture occurred exactly 31 years after John Paul II visited Agca in prison. Agca's motives for the assassination attempt remain a mystery.

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Agca has reportedly made two requests for in-person meetings with current Pope Francis, which Vatican officials have rejected.

"He has put flowers on the tomb of John Paul II. I think that is enough," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told La Repubblica.

John Paul II died in April 2005. Agca's visit to his grave Saturday marks the first time the former gunman has been on Vatican grounds since shooting the former pope three decades ago.

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