Pope Francis narrowly escaped two assassination attempts during his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021, according to excerpts from his forthcoming autobiography, Hope, published Tuesday by Italian media.
In the book, set for release in January across over 80 countries, the pontiff revealed that his Vatican security team received an urgent warning from British intelligence about two imminent threats.
“A young suicide bomber, a woman armed with explosives, was on her way to Mosul to detonate during the papal visit,” Pope Francis wrote. “Additionally, a van sped off with the same deadly intention.”
The attackers were intercepted and neutralized by Iraqi police before they could carry out their plans, he disclosed in excerpts published by the Corriere della Sera.
Reflecting on the decision to proceed with the trip despite the risks, Francis, who turned 88 on Tuesday, admitted: “Almost everyone advised me against it. But I wanted to get to the bottom of things. I felt I had to do it.”
The three-day visit in March 2021, the first papal trip in 15 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was marked by unprecedented security measures. The Pope visited Baghdad, Mosul, and other locations, including areas that were former strongholds of the Islamic State group, underscoring his mission to promote peace and reconciliation in the war-torn country.
During international trips, the Pope’s security is coordinated by the Pontifical Swiss Guard and the Vatican Gendarmerie in collaboration with local authorities, who ensured his safety throughout the high-risk journey.
