From ancient byways to modern highways, glimpses of faith are everywhere...

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

John Paul II: Guns and roses

(Public Domain)
Back in May 1981, Mehmet Ali Agca was all about guns.  Reuters reports that he “critically injured” Pope John Paul II “after firing several shots in the failed assassination attempt in
St. Peter’s Square.”

While Agca was serving a life sentence for this attack, John Paul forgave him.  Not only that, the pontiff actually visited
Agca in the Rome prison.  

Thus, the roses began.

Exactly 31 years after this compassionate visit, Agca recently arrived in the Vatican.  There he “stood for a few minutes in silent meditation over [John Paul’s] tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica before leaving two bunches of white roses.”

Agca had been “pardoned by Italy in 2000”and “released from jail in 2010.”

Petal by petal, the acrid stench of hatred can truly be replaced by the sweet smell of roses.

Resources
http://news.yahoo.com/man-tried-kill-pope-john-paul-ii-puts-180226217.html

Copyright December 31, 2014 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved


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