Forgive
Exhibition
Forgive
The exhibition is located on level -1 and can be visited with an entrance ticket.
On 13 May 1981, in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, Mehmet Ali Agca made an attempt on the life of John Paul II. 40 years later, in remembrance of those moments, the exhibition ‘I forgive’ was created to look at the events of that day from the perspective of the Holy Father, who had already forgiven his assassin in the ambulance.
The unique exhibits on display are ‘silent witnesses’ to the Pope's suffering, but also to his attitude of prayer and forgiveness. Already four days after the assassination attempt, while lying in his hospital bed, John Paul II, in a speech recorded on the occasion of the Sunday Regina Coeli prayer in the Vatican's St Peter's Square, uttered special words:
The exhibition shows the furnishings of the hospital room from the Gemelli Polyclinic, where John Paul II recovered many times during his pontificate. It includes a hospital bed, white bed linen with the logo of the Polyclinic, a bedside table, a glass medicine cabinet and two chairs.
The exhibition is accompanied by an excerpt from a unique documentary film featuring the Pope's personal physician, Professor Renato Buzzonetti, in which he recalls the events of 13 May 1981 and the day before the assassination attempt. The exhibition is complemented by a description of the facts that took place on that day, and its message is the words of St John Paul II:
The exhibition ‘I forgive’ complements the permanent exhibition of the Wadowice Museum, created in 2014. The space dedicated to the assassination attempt on the Holy Father 40 years ago occupies an important place here. Of the exhibits on display, special attention is drawn to the original Browning HP 9mm pistol used by Ali Agca to shoot John Paul II in St Peter's Square, as well as the suit worn by the head of Vatican security, Francesco Pasanisi, who used his own body to shield the wounded Pope from successive shots. Traces of the Holy Father's blood are still visible on the trousers today.
The unique exhibits on display are ‘silent witnesses’ to the Pope's suffering, but also to his attitude of prayer and forgiveness. Already four days after the assassination attempt, while lying in his hospital bed, John Paul II, in a speech recorded on the occasion of the Sunday Regina Coeli prayer in the Vatican's St Peter's Square, uttered special words:
‘Beloved brothers. I know that in these days, especially in this hour, you are united with me. With emotion I thank you for your prayers and I bless you all. I am especially close to the two people wounded with me, and I pray for the brother who wounded me and for whom I have sincerely forgiven. United with Christ the Priest-Sacrifice, I offer my suffering in sacrifice for the Church and the world. To you, Mary, I repeat: ‘Totus Tuus ego sum’.
The exhibition shows the furnishings of the hospital room from the Gemelli Polyclinic, where John Paul II recovered many times during his pontificate. It includes a hospital bed, white bed linen with the logo of the Polyclinic, a bedside table, a glass medicine cabinet and two chairs.
The exhibition is accompanied by an excerpt from a unique documentary film featuring the Pope's personal physician, Professor Renato Buzzonetti, in which he recalls the events of 13 May 1981 and the day before the assassination attempt. The exhibition is complemented by a description of the facts that took place on that day, and its message is the words of St John Paul II:
‘We all need forgiveness from our brothers and sisters, so we should all be ready to forgive. To ask for forgiveness and to forgive - that is the way truly worthy of man’.
The exhibition ‘I forgive’ complements the permanent exhibition of the Wadowice Museum, created in 2014. The space dedicated to the assassination attempt on the Holy Father 40 years ago occupies an important place here. Of the exhibits on display, special attention is drawn to the original Browning HP 9mm pistol used by Ali Agca to shoot John Paul II in St Peter's Square, as well as the suit worn by the head of Vatican security, Francesco Pasanisi, who used his own body to shield the wounded Pope from successive shots. Traces of the Holy Father's blood are still visible on the trousers today.
Photo gallery
