On May 13, 1981, Ali Agca shot John Paul II on the St. Peter’s Square. He was shooting to kill him. Later he will say, “I know I aimed correctly.”
Earlier, when the Pope was alive, I often talked about this tragic day. I could talk about it quite clearly, that is, I was able to recall almost everything. Two shots which rang out on the St. Peter’s Square, because I heard only two. The Holy Father collapsing into my arms. A desperate ride first to the Vatican dispensary, and then to the Gemelli polyclinic. A surgical operation that seemed to have no end. And, Dr. Buzzonetti, who at one point came out and asked me to give the Pope the anointing of the sick. The condition was serious, on the verge of death. And, I prayed, I prayed, I was crying and praying. Then someone touched my shoulder and I heard a wonderful message: he survived!
Earlier, when the Pope was alive, I was able to talk about that day. What’s more, I wanted to tell the story, because there was a sign of support from heaven, which restored life to the Holy Father. He himself was personally convinced of this.
With the permission of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz – “At the side of the Saint”
St. Stanislaw BM Publishing House, Krakow 2013
