It's May 13th, 1981, in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City.

It's a sunny afternoon, Mehmet Aliaja, a young man from Turkey, lingers among the crowd of pilgrims

and tourists packed into the shadows of St. Peter's Basilica.

A white open-top car crawls slowly across

the cobblestones. Standing in the back is Pope John Paul II, and as the car moves

through the square, the Pope reaches down and touches the

outstretched hands of the faithful. He blesses the crowd speaking in several languages.

All the while, Aja carefully tracks the Pope's movements.

John Paul II is a relatively new Pope, having served only three years.

And at 61, he's the youngest Pope in centuries.

That might be why he's more willing to take risks than his advisors would like.

Journalists have commented that this weekly open-top car ride leaves him exposed to attack,

but the Pope loves seeing his people face to face.

It's energizing for him and he believes that God will protect him from harm.

Aja doesn't care about the Pope's reason for his weekly outings, only that they happen, because

unlike every other person in the square, Aja is no pilgrim.

As the Pope's car draws near, Aja reaches into his jacket.

He cocks a 9 millimeter browning semi-automatic pistol hidden in his pocket.

The Pope is only feet away.

Aja pulls out the gun and fires four shots in quick succession.

The Pope cries out in pain and St Peter's Square erupts in chaos. As the white car speeds off with Pope,

Ajah pushes his way through the crowd. He flims away his gun hoping to escape

...