Mehmet Ali Agca, who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981, putting the blame afterwards on the Bulgarian secret service, has now alleged that the Vatican government has masterminded the move.

"The Vatican government decided on the Pope's assassination," Agca told Turkey's state-run television in his first interview in his native country since his release.

"They planned and organised it. The order to shoot the Pope was given by Vatican secretary, Cardinal Agostino Casaroli."...