Man who tried to assassinate John Paul II wants to personally welcome pope in Turkey

Mehmet Ali Agca, the man who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981, has arrived in Iznik, Turkey, to welcome Pope Leo XIV. Agca stated his wish to meet the new pope and expressed his appreciation for the Vatican's contributions to world peace. He also labeled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the "real terrorist," claiming the Vatican agrees with this assessment. Agca asserted that his assassination attempt was part of a "divine plan" and that he was used to help bring down the Soviet empire. Turkish intelligence is reportedly monitoring Agca's movements during the papal visit.