Juan María Fernández y Krohn
Encyclopedia
Juan María Fernández y Krohn (born ca. 1948, Spain) is a former Roman Catholic
priest
and former Belgian
lawyer who tried to physically attack Pope John Paul II
in 1982.
He was ordained
a priest in the Society of Saint Pius X seminary in Ecône, Switzerland in 1978. He was retroactively terminated from membership in the Society after his assassination attempt on the Pope and because he openly proclaimed that Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre
's opposition to Pope John Paul II was too weak.
On 12 May 1982, he tried to stab Pope John Paul II with a bayonet
in Fátima, Portugal
. It's unclear whether he wounded the Pope or not. During his trial, he claimed that he was opposed to the reforms of Vatican II
and that he believed Pope John Paul II had been in league with the Soviet Union and even was a secret Communist
agent trying to corrupt the Vatican
.
He received a six-year sentence though he served only three years and then was expelled from Portugal, after which he moved to Belgium. By then, he had abandoned the priesthood.
In Belgium he became a controversial lawyer
. During the beginning of his career as a lawyer, he was accused of slapping judge
and Cassation
president Erik Carre in the face with the palm of his hand. Fernández y Krohn was also accused of spreading anti-semitic propaganda in the councillors' room of the Brussels Palace of Justice
.
In 1996, he was charged with setting fire to a centre of the Herri Batasuna, the political branch of the terrorist Basque separatist group ETA
. He was subsequently acquitted.
He was arrested again in July 2000 after climbing over a security barricade at the Royal Palace of Brussels
, and throwing accusations of murder at the approaching Spanish King Juan Carlos. He accused the King of killing his brother Alfonso
in 1956 in order to become King of Spain. Juan Carlos visited King Albert on a three days State Visit, accompagnied by Queen Sofia. This incident happened during the national hymns were played, in the ceremonial welcome. He was arrested by three security officers, who jumped on him. He received a four-month probational sentence and a fine.
After 2000, he has lived in Belgium and Spain, and is reported to be an expert in art
and literature
of the Spanish post–Civil War
period (1939–1990).
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and former Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
lawyer who tried to physically attack Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
in 1982.
He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
a priest in the Society of Saint Pius X seminary in Ecône, Switzerland in 1978. He was retroactively terminated from membership in the Society after his assassination attempt on the Pope and because he openly proclaimed that Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre
Marcel Lefebvre
Marcel François Marie Joseph Lefebvre was a French Roman Catholic archbishop. Following a career as an Apostolic Delegate for West Africa and Superior General of the Holy Ghost Fathers, he took the lead in opposing the changes within the Church associated with the Second Vatican Council.In 1970,...
's opposition to Pope John Paul II was too weak.
On 12 May 1982, he tried to stab Pope John Paul II with a bayonet
Bayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
in Fátima, Portugal
Fátima, Portugal
Fátima is a city in Portugal famous for the Marian apparitions, recognized by the Catholic Church, that took place there in 1917. The town itself has a population of 7,756 and is located in the municipality of Ourém, in the Centro Region and Médio Tejo Subregion...
. It's unclear whether he wounded the Pope or not. During his trial, he claimed that he was opposed to the reforms of Vatican II
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
and that he believed Pope John Paul II had been in league with the Soviet Union and even was a secret Communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
agent trying to corrupt the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
.
He received a six-year sentence though he served only three years and then was expelled from Portugal, after which he moved to Belgium. By then, he had abandoned the priesthood.
In Belgium he became a controversial lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. During the beginning of his career as a lawyer, he was accused of slapping judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
and Cassation
Court of Cassation (Belgium)
The Court of Cassation is the main court of last resort in Belgium.It was originally modelled after the French Cour de cassation. Its jurisdiction and powers are similar to those of its French counterpart....
president Erik Carre in the face with the palm of his hand. Fernández y Krohn was also accused of spreading anti-semitic propaganda in the councillors' room of the Brussels Palace of Justice
Law Courts of Brussels
The Law Courts of Brussels or Brussels Palace of Justice is the most important Court building in Belgium, and is a notable landmark of Brussels. It was built between 1866 and 1883 in the eclectic style by architect Joseph Poelaert...
.
In 1996, he was charged with setting fire to a centre of the Herri Batasuna, the political branch of the terrorist Basque separatist group ETA
ETA
ETA , an acronym for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna is an armed Basque nationalist and separatist organization. The group was founded in 1959 and has since evolved from a group promoting traditional Basque culture to a paramilitary group with the goal of gaining independence for the Greater Basque Country...
. He was subsequently acquitted.
He was arrested again in July 2000 after climbing over a security barricade at the Royal Palace of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, and throwing accusations of murder at the approaching Spanish King Juan Carlos. He accused the King of killing his brother Alfonso
Infante Alfonso of Spain
Infante Alfonso of Spain was the younger brother of King Juan Carlos of Spain.-Early life:...
in 1956 in order to become King of Spain. Juan Carlos visited King Albert on a three days State Visit, accompagnied by Queen Sofia. This incident happened during the national hymns were played, in the ceremonial welcome. He was arrested by three security officers, who jumped on him. He received a four-month probational sentence and a fine.
After 2000, he has lived in Belgium and Spain, and is reported to be an expert in art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
and literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
of the Spanish post–Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
period (1939–1990).