"<strong>Assassin targets Pope:</strong> Pope John Paul II collapses into the arms of his aides on May 13, 1981, after an <a href=""http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0513.html#article"" target=""_blank"">assassination attempt</a> by Turkish terrorist Mehmet Ali Agca in St. Peter's Square. Struck by two bullets that hit his abdomen, right arm and left hand, the Pope was seriously wounded and underwent more than five hours of surgery to save his life. Agca went on to <a href=""http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/18/pope-john-paul-mehmet-agca"" target=""_blank"">serve 19 years</a> in an Italian prison. The Pope pardoned Agca in 1983 and worked for his eventual release."
{}