PRESS OFFICE STATEMENT ON CLEMENCY FOR ALI AGCA

VATICAN CITY, JUN 14, 2000 (VIS) - Following is the declaration made yesterday afternoon by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls regarding the clemency granted to Ali Agca, who shot Pope John Paul in St. Peter's Square on May 13, 1981 and who has spent the last 19 years in Italian prisons:

"The Holy See has learned with satisfaction the news of the pardon granted to Ali Agca by Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, president of the Republic of Italy.

"As is well known, John Paul II forgave his attacker immediately.

"Some time ago, the Pope informed the Italian authorities that he was in favor of an act of clemency whenever the Italian legal system felt it was appropriate. This desire was recently renewed.

"That the granting of pardon comes during the Jubilee celebration makes the Holy Father's personal satisfaction even greater."

Ali Agca was extradited to his native Turkey where he arrived by plane early this morning. He was brought to a prison in Istanbul and is expected to serve time for the murder of a Turkish journalist.

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