[It's me]

Yep. None of these people are asking for forgiveness, so why is the Pope asking God to forgive them when they've shown no signs that they're remorseful of their actions whatsoever?

First, I think forgiveness is very hard.

Second, how the heck can you know what these stupid men thought seconds before their deaths. Remember, supposedly only one or two on each plane knew what exactly was happening. The others thought they were hijacking the planes and found out moments before their own deaths. Perhaps they did ask for forgiveness seconds before their deaths. They can't really "show us any signs" of being remorseful, can they?

Also, the Pope is from a religion that believes in Purgatory. Whether you believe it or not, he does believe in it. That's why the Pope can ask God to forgive.

God is kind and merciful, He is also just.

[Green Knight]

Second, how the heck can you know what these stupid men thought seconds before their deaths. Remember, supposedly only one or two on each plane knew what exactly was happening. The others thought they were hijacking the planes and found out moments before their own deaths. Perhaps they did ask for forgiveness seconds before their deaths. They can't really "show us any signs" of being remorseful, can they?

I'm pretty sure they all knew they were on a suicide mission, though they may not have known til the last minute what the targets were. But even so, they KNEW they were going to do something to harm innocents. What, they thought they were gonna hijack the planes to take the passengers to Disney Land? No, they knew they were going to do harm to innocent people. They might not have known how many or how, but they went in with their eyes open, at least when it came to hurting innocent people. Just because they might not have know that they would die as a result, it doesn't justify it. As for your scenario, sounds to me like they'd be more sorry that they were about to die, not sorry that they were about to murder countless innocents.

"Forgive them father, for they know not what they do."

They knew what they were doing.