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I found this article on another message board. It's from the Australian newspaper, "Canberra Times". They published a story about the shooting for Pope John Paul II. It was published in August 04, 2005. I'm a little late with this, but hey, so are they. And they made one big mistake. 
Pope Shot By Armenian Gunman
Canberra Times - Australasia; Aug 04, 2005
HE HAD just driven slowly through a cheering crowd of more than 20,000 people in St Peter's Square in Rome.
But on May 13, 1981, at 5.21pm, as Pope John Paul was about to step down from his open-topped vehicle - jokingly called the Popemobile - the repeated crack of gunfire rang out.
The Pope collapsed, bleeding profusely from gunshot wounds to his stomach.
Six shots were fired by 23-year- old Armenian gunman Mehmet Ali Agca from a Browning 9mm pistol. After his arrest, police discovered a letter in which he said he planned to kill the Pope ''to demonstrate to the world the imperialistic crimes of the Soviet Union and the United States''. Two American women were also wounded in the attack. The 60-year-old Pope was hit by four bullets - two lodging in the lower intestine, causing extensive internal wounds.
Moments before the shooting, the Pope had been holding a baby in his arms and had just given the infant back to its parents.
The assassination attempt was described by Italian police as ''the first act of terrorism against the Vatican'', and raised serious questions about security and protection of the Pope. The Italian press argued that the pontiff was protected by 95 ceremonial Swiss guards, armed only with medieval pikes. Doctors performed almost six hours of complex abdominal surgery.
The Pope also received emergency transfusions of 3.4litres of blood.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Gemelli Hospital near the Vatican, praying and waiting for news of his recovery. Were you there? Share your memories, via e-mail with [email protected]
Apparently a bunch of aggrivated people sent e-mails to the editor. Let me know if you want me to post the e-mails they sent.
Pope Shot By Armenian Gunman
Canberra Times - Australasia; Aug 04, 2005
HE HAD just driven slowly through a cheering crowd of more than 20,000 people in St Peter's Square in Rome.
But on May 13, 1981, at 5.21pm, as Pope John Paul was about to step down from his open-topped vehicle - jokingly called the Popemobile - the repeated crack of gunfire rang out.
The Pope collapsed, bleeding profusely from gunshot wounds to his stomach.
Six shots were fired by 23-year- old Armenian gunman Mehmet Ali Agca from a Browning 9mm pistol. After his arrest, police discovered a letter in which he said he planned to kill the Pope ''to demonstrate to the world the imperialistic crimes of the Soviet Union and the United States''. Two American women were also wounded in the attack. The 60-year-old Pope was hit by four bullets - two lodging in the lower intestine, causing extensive internal wounds.
Moments before the shooting, the Pope had been holding a baby in his arms and had just given the infant back to its parents.
The assassination attempt was described by Italian police as ''the first act of terrorism against the Vatican'', and raised serious questions about security and protection of the Pope. The Italian press argued that the pontiff was protected by 95 ceremonial Swiss guards, armed only with medieval pikes. Doctors performed almost six hours of complex abdominal surgery.
The Pope also received emergency transfusions of 3.4litres of blood.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Gemelli Hospital near the Vatican, praying and waiting for news of his recovery. Were you there? Share your memories, via e-mail with [email protected]
Apparently a bunch of aggrivated people sent e-mails to the editor. Let me know if you want me to post the e-mails they sent.
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