Political Affairs of the 80s by Kierra Sewell

Attempted Assassination of Pope John Paul II in 1981, May 13^th

The first attempted assassination of the Pope was in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. Though the pope narrowly escaped assassination, he did walk away from the ordeal critically wounded by Mehmet Ali Agca, the attempted assassin. The pope was struck four time and suffered severe blood loss. Agca was sentenced to life in prison by an Italian court. The pope later forgave Agca, in a saint-like act and was then pardoned by Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi at the pope’s request.

Assassination Attempt on US President Reagan

The pope was not the only powerful man in the year 1981 to be almost shot. President Reagan suffered a bullet wound only a few short weeks later at the Washington Hilton Hotel in D.C. Three others were shot and wounded by John Hinkley, Jr. Reagan suffered a punctured lung and heavy internal bleeding, but quickly received medical attention, recovering quickly. When it was sure that Reagan would survive the incident, Vice President George H. W. Bush returned to Washington.