Bishop Stephen Hero delivers homily on Memorial of St. Paul II

Bishop Stephen Hero delivered a homily on October 22, 2026, for the memorial of St. John Paul II.

During the homily, Bishop Hero recalled the May 13, 1981, assassination attempt on St. John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square. He noted that the Pope was shot in the abdomen, right arm, and left hand. Bishop Hero mentioned that two pilgrim women near the Pope were also injured during the attack. He noted that the Pope attributed his survival to the prayers of Our Lady of Fatima, as the shooting occurred on her feast day.

Bishop Hero described the historical impact of the event, noting that a red cobblestone in St. Peter’s Square marks the location of the shooting. He also reflected on the lack of modern security precautions during that period compared to current standards.