CurrentReport blog Pope Francis has disclosed that he narrowly escaped two assassination attempts during his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021. The revelation comes from excerpts of his autobiography, Hope, published on Tuesday in Italy.
The pontiff detailed that the British Secret Service had issued an urgent warning to the Vatican security team about imminent threats. “A woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit,” he wrote. “And a van had also set off at great speed with the same intention.”
Despite the threats, Pope Francis, who celebrated his 88th birthday on Tuesday, insisted on proceeding with the trip. “Almost everyone advised me against it, but I wanted to get to the bottom of things. I felt I had to do it,” he shared.
The pope’s three-day visit to Iraq marked a significant milestone as he became the first pontiff to visit the Arab nation. Amid tight security and the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Francis toured key regions, including Mosul, a city devastated by war and terrorism.
Excerpts from Hope, which is set to be released in over 80 countries in January, were first published by the Italian daily Corriere della Sera. The book provides deeper insights into the pope’s unwavering resolve to foster peace and dialogue, even in the face of danger.
