How I survived 2 assassination attempts in Iraq – Pope Francis
Pope Francis has disclosed how he survived two assassination attempts during his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021, as detailed in excerpts from his forthcoming autobiography, Hope, published Tuesday by Italian media.
The pontiff revealed that his Vatican security team received a critical warning from British intelligence about imminent threats during the trip.
“A woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit,” Francis wrote. “And a van had also set off at great speed with the same intention.”
According to the pope, the two attackers were intercepted and killed by Iraqi police.
Despite the warnings, Francis, who turned 88 on Tuesday, stood firm in his resolve to visit the war-torn country. “Almost everyone advised me against the trip to Iraq, but I wanted to get to the bottom of things. I felt I had to do it,” he wrote.
Read also: Pope slams both Harris, Trump, tells US Catholics to choose ‘lesser evil’
The March 2021 trip marked a significant moment in history as the pope travelled across Iraq amidst tight security and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During the three-day visit, he visited Baghdad and Mosul, a former stronghold of the Islamic State group, highlighting the importance of peace and reconciliation in the region.
Security for the pope’s overseas trips is typically managed by the Pontifical Swiss Guard and the Vatican Gendarmerie in coordination with local authorities.
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