Gunman who Shot Pope John Paul II Visits His Grave with Flowers after 31 years

Mehmet Ali Agca now 56-year-old, the Turkish man who shot and injured former Pope, John Paul II in 1981 has laid flowers on the dead pontiff's tomb in the Vatican.

 

The visit was 31 years after the late pope John Paul II visited Agca in prison and forgave him for the attempt on his life - shooting him twice at close range. Agca told the police he felt the need to make the gesture, according to a report by Italian media.

 

The former convict served 19 years in jail for attempted murder but the motive behind the shooting is yet to be uncovered. He spent another 10 years in prison in Turkey on charges related to the earlier murder of a newspaper editor.

 

Reports say Agca laid white roses at the tomb of the late Pope on Saturday, in his first visit to the Vatican since his attack on John Paul II on 13 May 1981. However, Agca's request for a face-to-face meeting with Pope Francis has been denied by Vatican officials a second time.

 

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