The man who shot and wounded
Pope John Paul II in 1981 told ANSA on Monday he wants to visit
the pope's tomb, but Italy has not granted him a visa.
Mehmet Ali Agca, 56, served 19 years in Italy, where the
pope visited him in prison. He was then deported to his native
Turkey, where he served 10 years.
"I would like to go to the tomb of John Paul II, who
visited me in prison," the would-be assassin told ANSA.
"I couldn't go to his funeral so I would like to pay my
respects as to a spiritual brother".
Agca went on to say that Emanuela Orlandi, a teenaged
Vatican citizen who went missing in 1983, is still alive.
"There is no reason to kill her," Agca said.
"She is absolutely alive, probably in some convent. The
Vatican knows everything and denies everything...it would be
difficult for Emanuela to re-emerge on her own and for the
Vatican to restore her to her family".
"This mystery will continue for many years. Pope Francis too
doesn't speak, because his advisers are telling him not to say
anything".
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