Turkish authorities have escorted Mehmet Ali Ağca — the man who shot Pope John Paul II in 1981 — out of the town of Iznik ahead of an official visit by Pope Leo XIV, according to local media reports.
Ağca, who has been living in Turkey after serving multiple prison sentences in Italy and Turkey, was reportedly asked to leave the area as part of heightened security measures put in place for the papal visit. Officials have not released further details about where he was taken or whether the move was temporary or permanent.
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit several historically significant religious sites in Iznik, a city known for its ties to early Christianity. Security protocols have been intensified in anticipation of the visit, with authorities working to ensure a peaceful and incident-free event.
Local media noted that the decision to remove Ağca was made to avoid potential disruptions and to maintain public order during the Pope’s stay.