Pope Francis revealed that he narrowly escaped two assassination attempts during his groundbreaking visit to Iraq in March 2021.
The information was shared through excerpts from his upcoming autobiography, “Hope,” which will be released globally in January 2025.
According to the pontiff, his Vatican security team received an urgent alert from British intelligence regarding the threat to his life.
In his book, Pope Francis recounted how a woman carrying explosives and a young suicide bomber were both targeting the papal visit.
“A woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit,” he shared.
“And a van had also set off at great speed with the same intention,” he added, according to excerpts from the book published by the Italian daily Corriere della Sera daily.
Both assailants were intercepted and killed by Iraqi security forces before they could carry out their plans.
Reflecting on the dangers of the trip, Pope Francis, who celebrated his 88th birthday on Tuesday, admitted that many had advised against the visit due to security concerns. However, he felt compelled to proceed with the journey.
“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.
The three-day visit, which was the Pope’s first international trip in over a year and took place during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, was conducted under intense security.
Despite the threat to his safety, the Pope travelled across Iraq, including visits to Baghdad and Mosul, a city once held by the Islamic State.
According to AFP, during such trips, the Pope’s security is handled by the Pontifical Swiss Guard and the Vatican Gendarmerie, working closely with local authorities.