Hello, my friends, this is Dr. Beter. Today is June 6, 1981, and this is my AUDIO LETTER No. 65.

Wednesday afternoon May 13 was a beautiful sunny afternoon in Rome. At the Vatican thousands of people were gathered in St. Peter’s Square. They were waiting for the regular Wednesday afternoon audience by the man known to the world as Pope John Paul II. Right on time he made his appearance. As usual, he was standing in a special jeep-like vehicle, waving to the crowd as the vehicle drove slowly around the Square. Inside the walls of the Vatican that afternoon it was a scene of peace and cheer. It was as if the insane rush of a troubled world had been locked outside for a few precious moments. Filled with a sea of smiling faces, St. Peter’s Square seemed immune from the presence of evil. Suddenly the illusion was shattered. There was the sound of gun fire, and the man known as the Pope crumpled and fell. As the crowd looked on in disbelief, the papal vehicle sped up and rushed out of St. Peter’s Square. In a matter of moments the scene of tranquility had been transformed into one of tragedy. Gone were all the smiles; and in their place, tears. For days afterward people the world over were asking just one question: “Why would anyone shoot the Pope?“ My three special topics for this AUDIO LETTER are: Topic #1--THE POPE, THE PRESIDENT, AND ASSASSINATION POLITICS Topic #2--THE AFTERMATH OF THE SHUTTLE “COLUMBIA“ DISASTER Topic #3--MOUNTING WORLD CRISES AND “ACCIDENTAL“ NUCLEAR WAR.