The Iranian embassy in Belgrade states that Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, had no connection to the assassin of Pope John Paul II in 1981. According to the Associated Press, Mehmet Ali Ağca, a Turkish citizen who shot the Pope in St. Peter's Square on May 31, 1981, reiterated in an interview with Serbian television that Ayatollah Khomeini had ordered him to kill the Pope. He also made this claim in his book titled 'They Promised Me Paradise.' The Iranian embassy in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, strongly denied these statements on Thursday, January 4, and stated that Ayatollah Khomeini's relations with various religions, including with the Pope, have always been very good. The Vatican had also previously denied this claim. The Pope was hit by four bullets in that assassination attempt and was severely injured. John Paul II later forgave his assassin, asking people to 'pray for my brother (Ağca) whom I have forgiven.' The two had a private conversation in 1983 while Ağca was in prison. Mehmet Ali Ağca, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in July 1981, was pardoned in 2000 at the request of the Pope by the then President of Italy and was extradited to Turkey. He was also accused of the assassination of a leftist journalist in 1979 and two bank robberies in the 1970s, spending ten years in Turkish prisons. After serving 29 years in prison in Italy and Turkey, Mehmet Ali Ağca was released in 2010.
Iran Denies Ayatollah Khomeini's Connection to Assassination Attempt on Pope John Paul II
Iran's embassy in Belgrade has denied any connection between Ayatollah Khomeini and the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, following claims made by the assassin Mehmet Ali Ağca. This denial comes amidst ongoing discussions about Khomeini's relations with various religions. The matter is significant as it touches on historical narratives and diplomatic relations.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Iranian embassy in Belgrade denied claims that Ayatollah Khomeini was involved in the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, following allegations by the assassin Mehmet Ali Ağca.
- Mehmet Ali Ağca claimed Khomeini ordered the assassination.
- The Iranian embassy and the Vatican have both denied these claims.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
In 1981, Pope John Paul II survived an assassination attempt by Mehmet Ali Ağca, who has made various claims about the incident over the years.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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