Pope John Paul II on coins

[Figleaf]

Pope John Paul II had himself a special car built.

Sort-of-but-not-quite. In 1981, this pope was the subject of an assassination attempt. It happened while John Paul II was driven around standing up in the back of an open jeep-like Fiat Campagnola. His entourage understandably drew lessons from what had happened and got him a modified Mercedes-Benz M class with bullet-proof shields and a chair as pictured on the piece you show.

To me, the real story is elsewhere. The culprit was caught and received a life sentence. John Paul II sought him out in prison, talked to him at length, trying to understand (there are many plot theories, but it is sufficiently clear that Bulgarian intelligence officials were instructed to assist him) and forgave him, to the extent that he convinced the Italian authorities to set his would-be assassin free. He explained that this action was (paraphrasing here) necessary to liberate himself from anger and pressure to take revenge, but he likely wanted to set a new testament example for his followers.

Peter

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Haiti, 500 gourdes, 1983.  Gold coin.  Papal visit.

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Liberia, $10, 2003.