Pope John Paul II (1920–2005) is shot by would-be assassin Mehmet Ali Agca in St Peter's Square, 13th May 1981. His attendants help him into his white jeep after the incident. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The coffin containing the body of Pope John Paul II is exhumed ahead of his beatification at Vatican Basilica on April 29, 2011 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope John Paul II will be beatified by Benedict XVI in a ceremony at the Vatican on Sunday. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)

Pope Benedict XVI arrives at the Santa Sabina Basilica for the Ash Wednesday service on March 9, 2011 in Rome, Italy. Ash Wednesday opens the liturgical 40-day period of Lent, a period of prayer, fasting, penitence and alms giving leading up to Easter.