Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

40 years since the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II

Photo: Library

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square in Rome. The Bulgarian Sergei Antonov, an employee of the BGA Balkan office in Rome, was accused of complicity in the attack on May 13, 1981. The news of the "Bulgarian trace" in the attempted assassination travelled around the world in a flash.

On March 29, 1986, an Italian court acquitted Antonov, and the assassin, Ali Agca, remained in prison for life. On April 1, 1986, after 1,222 days behind bars in an Italian prison, Antonov returned to Sofia in a severe physical and mental condition, diagnosed with cerebral atrophy caused by psychotropic drugs which, according to doctors, were forcibly administered to him in prison.
In May 2002, during his official visit to Bulgaria at a meeting with President Georgi Parvanov, Pope John Paul II stated: "I never believed in the so-called Bulgarian trace in the assassination attempt against me, it was an insinuation and a great injustice to the Bulgarian people.”. 
You can read more on this topic HERE.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Cocaine worth over 400 thousand leva seized near Simitli

A specialized police operation by the Directorate of the Bulgarian Anti-Drug and Drug Enforcement Administration (GDBOP) uncovered an organized crime group operating in the Blagoevgrad region , related to the distribution of narcotics.  5 kg of..

published on 2/20/25 5:18 PM
Stanislav Balabanov

Bulgarian Parliament to issue declaration against sending Bulgarian soldiers to Ukraine

Over 70% of Bulgarians are categorically against sending a military contingent to Ukraine. This was stated by Dimitar Ganev from the sociological agency “Trend” in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio. President Radev opposes sending..

published on 2/20/25 1:14 PM

No one has requested Bulgaria's participation in a peacekeeping operation in Ukraine

Nowhere and in no way has anyone discussed the issue of sending troops to Ukraine to participate in hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev told MPs in parliament. Foreign Minister Georgiev..

published on 2/20/25 11:34 AM