Pope Francis narrowly escaped two assassination attempts during his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021, according to excerpts from his upcoming autobiography, Hope, published Tuesday in Italian media.
The pontiff revealed that his Vatican security team was alerted by British intelligence about imminent threats.
“A woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit,” Francis wrote in Hope, set to be released in over 80 countries this January.
“And a van had also set off at great speed with the same intention,” he added, as reported by the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
Both threats were neutralized by Iraqi police, who intercepted and killed the attackers.
Francis, who celebrated his 88th birthday on Tuesday, reflected on his decision to proceed with the trip despite the dangers. “Almost everyone advised me against it,” he wrote. “But I wanted to get to the bottom of things. I felt I had to do it.”
The groundbreaking three-day visit marked his first international trip in 15 months, conducted amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic and under extraordinary security measures.
During his journey, the Argentine pope visited key cities, including Baghdad and Mosul, the latter once a stronghold of the Islamic State group.
For such trips, the pope’s safety is managed by the Pontifical Swiss Guard and the Vatican Gendarmerie, working in close coordination with local security forces.
