Pope shot in St. Peter's Square
May 13, 1981
A Turkish gunman fired four shots at Pope John Paul II as he rode through St. Peter's Square in an open car, hitting him in the abdomen. The pope survived after six hours of surgery and later visited his would-be assassin in prison and forgave him. The motive remained obscure. The pope credited the Virgin of Fatima with saving his life.
In context
Also in 1981 (6 other events on record)
- AIDS first reported · North America · Disaster
- IBM PC launches · North America · Technology
- Sadat assassinated · Middle East · Politics
- Reagan shot · North America · Politics
- Iran hostages released · Middle East · Politics
- Charles and Diana wed · Europe · Culture
Before and after in Europe
Before and after in Religion
Era
Modern Era (1901–2000), one of 590 events from that era on Saeculum.