1981: Pope John Paul II shot in Rome

Pope John Paul II was shot four times as he blessed the crowds in St Peter’s Square in Rome in May 1981.

The Pope was being driven through a crowd of about 20,000 worshippers when he was struck in the stomach, arm and hand.

Police arrested the gunman, Mehmet Ali Ağca, who was later publicly forgiven and visited by the Pope while in prison.

BBC Archive: Originally broadcast on 13 May 1981.