Word: mendoza
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Publicity Stunt? The would-be assassin, police soon learned, was not a Filipino but a Bolivian painter, Benjamin Mendoza y Amor, 35, who had lived in Argentina, the U.S., Japan, Hong Kong and the Philippines since leaving La Paz in 1962. He wanted to kill the Pope, he claimed, "to save the people from hypocrisy and superstition." In an interview the next day, Mendoza said that he had first formed the idea of assassinating the Pope "a long time ago," and would try again if he were free. Filipino acquaintances agreed that Mendoza was "a frustrated artist." A New York...
...While Mendoza remained in custody, charged with assault and attempted murder (maximum penalty: 15 years), the Pope went on about his schedule unruffled. The day after the incident some 200,000 worshipers jammed Manila's Rizal Park while the Pope concelebrated Mass with Asian bishops and ordained 200 priests from Asian countries...