Turkish former hit‑man Mehmet Ali Agca arrived in Iznik last week to speak with journalists and requested a brief conversation with the visiting Pope Leo XIV, but authorities denied him access.
Agca’s Arrival in Iznik
The local channel Halk TV reported that 67‑year‑old Mehmet Ali Agca landed in Iznik on Thursday. He spoke with reporters about his plan to meet the Pope and hold a short conversation.
Pope Leo XIV’s Turkish Pilgrimage
On Thursday, Pope Leo XIV began a pilgrimage in Turkey, with a scheduled visit to Iznik to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, an event that has shaped Christian history.
Background on Agca’s Past
Agca is a former Turkish contract killer who murdered journalist Abdi E. Ipekçi in 1979 and attempted to kill Pope John Paul II in 1981 with a gunshot. He was released from prison in 2010.
Police Intervention
Later that evening, the man left the town under police escort, indicating that security officers prevented his meeting with the Pope.