On May 13, 2026, before the start of the General Audience, Pope Leo XIV paused during his popemobile ride through St. Peter's Square to kneel and pray at the exact spot where St. John Paul II was shot on May 13, 1981. The assassination attempt occurred at 5:17 PM local time when Mehmet Ali Ağca fired multiple shots, seriously wounding the pope.
According to Vatican News, the pope's gesture was a moment of silent reflection, marking the 45th anniversary of the attack. St. John Paul II later forgave his would-be assassin and visited him in prison in 1983.
The spot is marked by a white stone in the square, and it has become a traditional stop for popes on the anniversary. Pope Francis also prayed there during his pontificate.
