Posted on 09/19/2006 12:45:27 PM PDT by jdm
The man who shot Pope John Paul II has written Pope Benedict XVI from a Turkish jail cell to warn him he risks assassination if he visits Turkey.
Vatican officials consider Mehmet Ai Agca's letter to be a warning, not a threat, The Times of London reported Tuesday. The pope is scheduled to visit Turkey in November.
"I write as one who knows about these matters very well," Agca said. "Your life is in danger. Don't come to Turkey -- absolutely not!"
Benedict caused an uproar in the Muslim world when he quoted a 14th-century Byzantine emperor who said Islam had produced nothing but evil.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
and what? Blame the United States?
Depends on who you tried to shoot.
Was talking about this with my husband last night. His response: "I guess they don't remember what happened last time they pissed off the Pope. They got the Crusades."
You must be kidding? Europe? LoL
Good point, I would imagine they would just surrender.
"Didn't this guy convert to Christianity after Pope JPII forgave him?"
That seems to ring a bell... I'm not sure, but I think there was some speculation about conversion because he was so impressed by a true religion of peace and forgiveness of sins compared to his religion of death.
I guess I'm wrong... he is just plain nuts:
ALI AGCA SAYS VATICAN PROMISED TO NAME HIM CARDINAL
Former Terrorist Continues To Make Provocative Statements
ANKARA, AUGUST 10 (ZENIT.org).- Yesterday Ali Agca, the man who on May 13, 1981 tried to assassinate John Paul II in St. Peter's Square, said in Ankara,Turkey, that in 1983 the Vatican offered him a huge amount of money and the appointment of Cardinal if he converted to Catholicism.
"I would prefer to be a monkey in the African jungle than a king in the Vatican," Agca said, in a statement entitled "I am innocent. The Vatican is the greatest criminal." Agca's lawyer distributed the statement yesterday, before the opening of his client's trial for a robbery in 1979. The news was reported by the DPA agency.
Agca's lawyer said that his client's statements were not irrational, but reasonable and credible. He also said Agca has more revelations to make about the Vatican. However, Mehmet Ali Agca did not explain how the Pope could appoint him Cardinal when to do so, Agca would have to be baptized, ordained a priest, and appointed bishop. Moreover, Agca's release did not depend on the Vatican but on Italian justice, which was in charge of his case and little interested in his possible conversion to Catholicism.
The 43-year old Turk was given amnesty last June by Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, and handed over to Turkish authorities. The background to the attempt against the Pope's life was never clarified, although there was talk of a Bulgarian plot implicating the Soviet secret service. At present, Agca is being held in the Kartal high security prison in Istanbul, serving a sentence for killing a Turkish journalist in 1978.
At a hearing last month, Agca accused the Vatican of being "an enemy of God and humanity," and called for the Pope's resignation.
ZE00081005
No, he is not a Benedictine. But oddly enough, he chose the name "Benedict" anyway, which does coincide with Saint Malachi's prophesy, which I think is what you are referring to. Centuries ago St. Malachi predicted all the future popes by giving specific information about them, such as coat of arms, physical descriptions, and names that are related to them somehow, and other signs. Every one of the popes since then has been identifiable with Saint Malachi's prophesies. This present pope is the next to last Pope prophesied by St. Malachi. The final pope he listed, (if I recall correctly), will either be called "Peter" or will have some direct relation to the name "Peter".
There could be a huge radioactive mushroom cloud rising above the charred remains of the Vatican and western governments would still worry about potentially offending the Muslim "street" with harsh commentary. It's pathetic, really.
~ Blue Jays ~
"Didn't this guy convert to Christianity after Pope JPII forgave him?"
Ali Agca is a big fake, fraud, lier and phony.
Even though he may have said he converted, he's lying through his teeth. The thug was, is, and continues to be an irrelevant muslime.
"Ali Agca is a big fake, fraud, lier and phony.
Even though he may have said he converted, he's lying through his teeth. The thug was, is, and continues to be an irrelevant muslime."
And yet, he's probably given good advice to Pope Benedict. Heck, as someone else said, that's probably good advice for anyone, "Stay away from Turkey." (I almost typed "Turdkey" which I guess would work, too.
The Pope was telling the truth but he opened up an old wound
Now We should stick a knife in that wound and slowly turn it! He's not saying anything that hasn't been said on this board. (or worse) The Muzzies still think like they did centuries ago so, this wound is still 'new' to them.
The truth hurts. Especially for people who never grow out of their diapers.
I doubt Europe could muster two testicles amongst the entire population.
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