THIS DAY IN HISTORY:
Pope John Paul II Shot in Vatican City (1981)
In 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot in Vatican City's St. Peter's Square by Turkish terrorist Mehmet Ali Agca, who was captured and imprisoned. Although the pontiff was shot in the stomach, he recovered and publicly forgave his would-be assassin. In spite of the physical setback caused by the shooting, he continued to travel widely, eventually visiting 129 nations and increasing the international character of the papacy.
