In a shocking revelation by Pope Francis’ upcoming autobiography, a plot to kill him during a trip to Iraq was fooled following a tip-off from British intelligence.
In the autobiography, the Pope revealed that after landing in Baghdad in March 2021, he was informed that an event which he was all set to appear in was being targeted by two suicide bombers.
In excerpts published by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, the pontiff added that both attackers were eventually intercepted and killed.
The visit, which spanned three days during the coronavirus pandemic, was the first ever visit to Iraq by a pope and an intense security operation was launched afterwards.
The earlier years before have seen increased factional violence in Iraq, with conflict between Shia and Sunni Muslims as well as the persecution of religious minorities.
Due to their being targeted in particular by the Islamic State group and other Sunni extremists, the country’s Christian community shrunk dramatically.
According to the Pope in excerpts of his autobiography, “almost everyone advised me against” the visit but he remarked that he felt he “had to do it”.
The added that the pontiff was uncovered by British intelligence, who alerted the Iraqi police, and they in turn informed his security detail once he had touched down.
What They Are Saying
“A woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit,” The pope had narrated.
“And a van had also set off at great speed with the same intention.”
The Pope adds that he asked a security official the following day what had happened to the would-be attackers.
“The [official] replied laconically: ‘They are no more’. The Iraqi police had intercepted them and blown them up,” he chillingly wrote.
The book, titled Hope, is set to be published on 14 January.
