The Catholic Church has asked for prayers for Pope Francis’ safety in connection with the letter received with three bullets attached in Vatican City.
Manila Archdiocese Jose Cardinal Advincula said the people should pray for security for Pope Francis against any threat of violence to society.
The Cardinal’s message is related to the report that Pope Francis was sent a letter with a French stamp and addressed to “The Pope, Vatican City, St. Peter’s Square ”in Rome containing three 9.mm bullets and a message related to the Vatican’s financial operations, according to a report by Milan authorities.
“Ipanalangin natin na hipuin ng Diyos ang puso ng mga taong naghahasik ng takot, karahasan, kasinungalingan at lumalabag sa karapatang-pantao,” said Cardinal in an interview with church-run Radio Veritas.
(Let us pray that God will touch the hearts of those who sow fear, violence, lies, and human rights violations.)
Police are continuing their investigation into the incident, and an unnamed French national is a suspect.
On May 13, 1981, Saint John Paul II was shot in St. Peter’s Square while conducting his weekly general audience.
Pope Francis receives letter with 3 bullets of 9mm
The Pope survived while the suspect, Mehmet Ali Agca, a Turkish national, was arrested, who also used a 9 mm Browning automatic firearm.
Following the shooting, Pope John Paul II asked people to “pray for my brother [Ağca] … whom I have sincerely forgiven.” Then, in 1983, he and Ağca met and spoke privately at Rome’s Rebibbia Prison, where Ağca was being held. Ağca reportedly kissed the Pope’s ring after their visit; some mistakenly thought the Pope was hearing Agca’s confession. The Pope was also in touch with Ağca’s family over the years, meeting his mother in 1987 and his brother, Muezzin Agca, a decade later.
Although Ağca was quoted as saying that “to me [the Pope] was the incarnation of all that is capitalism” and attempted to murder him, Ağca developed a friendship with the pontiff. In early February 2005, during the Pope’s illness, Ağca sent a letter to the Pope wishing him well.
In June 2020, Ağca was granted parole by former Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi in June 2000 based on the Pope’s request.
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