Turkish authorities have taken dramatic security measures ahead of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Turkey by removing the man who famously attacked Pope John Paul II in 1981 from the historic town of Iznik.
Security Precaution Ahead of Papal Visit
On Thursday, November 27, Turkish national Mehmet Ali Agca was escorted from Iznik where Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit as part of his first international trip as leader of the Catholic Church. The removal came after Agca expressed his desire to meet the current pontiff.
Turkish media outlet Halk TV reported that security personnel removed Agca from the area before the Pope's arrival. The move represents one of the most significant security precautions taken during the papal visit to Turkey.
The 1981 Attack and Aftermath
The background to this security concern dates back to May 1981 when Mehmet Ali Agca fired several shots at Pope John Paul II in Vatican City's St. Peter's Square. The attack severely injured the pontiff and shocked the world.
Agca received a life sentence in Italy for the assassination attempt but ultimately served his prison time in Ankara, Turkey's capital. After spending 29 years behind bars, he was finally released in January 2010.
In a remarkable display of forgiveness, Pope John Paul II visited his attacker in prison in December 1983. During this emotional meeting, Agca repented for his crime though he never fully clarified his motives for the shooting.
Historical Significance of Iznik Visit
Pope Leo XIV's stop in Iznik carries profound historical importance for Christianity. The visit marks the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a landmark gathering of bishops that took place in the year 325.
This ancient council resulted in the Nicene Creed, a statement of Christian faith that remains central to Christian doctrine worldwide. The choice of Iznik for this commemorative visit underscores the town's historical significance as the site where early Christian leaders shaped fundamental beliefs.
Before his removal, Agca had told Turkish media that he hoped to "welcome the pope" and expressed his desire for a brief meeting, saying "I hope we can sit down and talk in Iznik, or in Istanbul, for two or three minutes." Turkish authorities, however, determined that such an encounter would pose an unacceptable security risk during this important diplomatic and religious occasion.
