while it's still somewhat premature to suggest folks are going to be staying away from the papal funeral in droves, another prominent newsmaker appears unlikely to be in attendance.

unlike martin luther, mehmet ali agca wants to be there but it's highly doubtful he can free up the time...or himself.   citing 'other commitments that have me locked up here in turkey', agca said, 'by the beard of the bulgarian or east german prophet, i'd kill for a chance to say goodbye to my brother, the pope'.

acknowledging it was 'doubly disappointing' to him, the one-time papal assassin complained that turkish law enforcement officials werent at all sympathetic to his plight.

'this is the SECOND time i've missed this pope's funeral dammit.  who else can make that claim?'.