It was announced by Cardinal Angelo Sodano on May 13 , 2000 , 83 years after the first apparition of the Lady to the children in the Cova da Iria , and 19 years after the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II that the Third Secret would finally be released . In his announcement , Cardinal Sodano implied that the secret was about the 20th century persecution of Christians that culminated in the failed Pope John Paul II assassination attempt on May 13 , 1981 , the 64th anniversary of the first apparition of the Lady at Fátima
Pope John Paul II assassination attempt
Pope John Paul II assassination attempt
Three Secrets of Fátima