Mehmet Ali Ağca is also in İznik to see Pope Leo XIV: 'There are ignorant conspiracy theories'

Mehmet Ali Ağca, who escaped from the prison where he was held for the murder of Abdi İpekçi and was later pardoned by Pope John Paul II—whom he had attempted to assassinate in the Vatican after entering illegally on May 13, 1981—has arrived in the İznik district of Bursa to meet with the new spiritual leader of Catholics, Pope Leo XIV. 

Speaking after his visit to the Hagia Sophia Mosque, Mehmet Ali Ağca said, "Exactly 1700 years ago today, an extraordinary event took place in İznik. Some of the Gospels were rejected, while others were accepted. A story emerged. The fact that the Pope is coming here is also an extraordinary event, of course. I say 'Welcome' to the Pope. We are happy to welcome him as a guest. We also find the Vatican's contributions to world peace to be very important."

Stating that he has always been misunderstood until today, Ağca said, "I am at the center of a divine plan. The world has not been able to understand this. Wrong things are being said, that he is a terrorist, this or that. Netanyahu is the terrorist. That satanist, Zionist monster called Netanyahu. He is the terrorist himself. Of course, the Vatican shares my view. In this respect, we must continue our friendship with the Vatican."

"HE IS COMING TO PROCLAIM"

Stating that many conspiracy theories have been produced regarding the Pope's visit to İznik, Mehmet Ali Ağca said, "By the way, there are very ignorant, primitive conspiracy theories. 'The Pope is coming here for this reason.' No, he is just coming here to proclaim his own faith to the world. We welcome him with respect. To you your religion, to me mine. There is no compulsion in religion. We respect freedom of religion. It is as simple as that."

"WE MUST BE FRIENDS WITH THE VATICAN"

Ağca said, "I am saying it clearly and plainly. We say 'Welcome' to the Pope. We hope that Turkey will welcome and see off the Pope in the best possible way. Let us be friends. We must be friends with the Vatican; I firmly believe in this. Today, billions of people all over the world are fighting unnecessarily, in Africa, in Asia. These are unnecessary fights, of course, not religious fights. These are fights produced by savage capitalism, produced by savage Zionism. I am underlining this. Satanist, Zionist gangs want to make people of faith kill each other to protect their own power. Let us never fall into these traps. When I say 'we,' I mean billions of people. Let us live in peace; the world has enough problems. I also say 'Welcome' to the Pope. I hope we can sit and talk today or tomorrow, in İznik or Istanbul, for 2 or 3 minutes."