43 years ago, on May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot at point-blank range by Mehmet Ali Ağca, a Turkish extremist and fugitive. Even though the bullets struck his arm, hand, and abdomen, his life was miraculously preserved. Pope John Paul II believed that he was protected by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom he had a deep devotion. The assassination attempt also took place on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima. The saintly Pope forgave his would-be assassin from his hosp