Pope John Paul II

A recent court indictment has revealed that  Mehmet Ali Ağca, the killer of journalist Abdi İpekçi and the perpetrator of failed assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II changed his surname to "Aslan," meaning "lion" in English.

An Istanbul court used the new surname of Ağca during a trial in which he faced 15 years in prison for looting.

The monument to John Paul II outside the Gemelli hospital, Rome, Italy, 05 July 2021. EPA-EFE/MASSIMO PERCOSSI A legend beyond criticism?

World Day of the Sick is observed on February 11 every year, introduced by Pope John Paul II in the year 1992. World Day of the Sick was started so that believers can pray for people who suffer from various illnesses. Celebration of World Day of the Sick usually involves everything from sharing prayers and messages on World Day of the Sick 2021, World Day of the Sick wishes and more.

Bucharest, Oct 20 /Agerpres/ - Four bishops, dozens of priests accompanied by believers will carry in the procession, on Sunday, the relic of Saint Pope John Paul II on the streets of Bucharest. The procession will start from the monument of Saint Pope John Paul II, located near the seat of the Apostolic Nunciature of Bucharest.

When Pope Francis goes to South America this week, he will meet with indigenous tribes in Chile and visit the native people in the Amazon in Peru, a first for any pontiff, according to ABC news. 

But the trip, the 22nd foreign trip during his tenure, could be overshadowed by security concerns, protests and church-related scandals.

Pope Francis on March 15 approved sainthood for Mother Teresa, the missionary nun who became a global if controversial symbol of compassion for her care of the sick and destitute.

AGERPRES correspondent Catalin Alexandru reports: Pope Francis received President Klaus Iohannis in Vatican on Friday; the Romanian head of state was accompanied by his wife, Carmen, and by an official delegation.

President Klaus Iohannis will visit on Thursday the Universal Expo 2015 in Milan, and will be received the next day at the Vatican by Pope Francis, the Presidential Administration informs.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

Cuban President Raul Castro arrived at the Vatican on May 10 to thank Pope Francis for his role in brokering the rapprochement between Havana and Washington.

In his Sunday Mass at the Vatican on April 12, Pope Francis referred to the mass killings during the deportation of Ottoman Armenians in World War I as ?widely considered ?the first genocide of the 20th century.??