Vatican City: Forty five years after the attempted assassination of Saint John Paul II in Saint Peter’s Square, the memory of the dramatic event continues to inspire reflection on faith, forgiveness and trust in God across the Catholic Church.
The attack on 13 May 1981 shocked millions around the world and became one of the defining moments of the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. The Polish Pope was greeting pilgrims during his weekly General Audience in Saint Peter’s Square when gunshots suddenly rang out from the crowd. He was struck at close range and seriously wounded before being rushed to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for emergency surgery.
The square, which moments earlier had been filled with joy and applause, quickly fell silent as thousands of pilgrims watched in fear and confusion. Vatican Radio journalist Benedetto Nardacci, who was reporting live at the scene, later described the atmosphere as one of shock and prayer as bishops, priests and faithful gathered together to pray for the Pope’s survival.
The Holy See Press Office later confirmed that the Pope had suffered serious abdominal injuries but said there were hopes for recovery after surgery.
Only four days after the attack, John Paul II addressed the faithful from the hospital during the Regina Caeli prayer. In words that deeply moved Catholics and non Catholics alike, he publicly forgave Mehmet Ali Ağca, the man who carried out the shooting. He also renewed his trust in the Virgin Mary, repeating the phrase closely linked to his papacy, “Totus tuus ego sum,” meaning “I am totally yours.”
The attack took place during a tense period in world history. The Cold War between the Soviet bloc and the West had intensified following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. In Poland, the rise of the independent trade union Solidarność was creating anxiety among communist authorities. Italy itself was experiencing political violence and terrorism during a troubled era known as the Years of Lead.
Over time, the events of 13 May became strongly connected to Pope’s devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. John Paul II believed that the Virgin Mary had protected him and saved his life on the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima. He later visited the shrine in Fatima, Portugal, to offer thanks for what he considered a miraculous survival.
The memory of the attack remained central to reflections on the Pope’s life even after his death in 2005. During the funeral Mass for John Paul II, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, spoke about the late Pope’s witness of suffering and faith. He reflected on how John Paul II transformed personal suffering into a testimony of love united with Christ.
Pope Francis also remembered the attack during a General Audience in May 2021. He said the anniversary was a reminder that human life and the history of the world remain in God’s hands.
The legacy of Saint John Paul II continues to influence the Church today. Shortly after his election in 2025, Pope Leo XIV addressed young people with words strongly associated with the Polish Pope’s ministry, saying, “Do not be afraid. Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord.”
A week later, on 18 May 2025, the anniversary of Karol Wojtyła’s birth, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Mass marking the beginning of his Petrine ministry, further linking the memory of Saint John Paul II with the life of the Church today.