NewsPope Francis recounts foiled assassination attempts in Iraq

Pope Francis recounts foiled assassination attempts in Iraq

Pope Francis revealed that during his visit to Iraq in March 2021, two assassination attempts on his life were thwarted. The fate of the would-be assassins is unknown. This topic is discussed in the autobiography set to be released in January. A fragment was published on Tuesday, on the Pope's 88th birthday, by the newspaper "Corriere della Sera."

Two assassination attempts on Pope Francis's life were thwarted.
Two assassination attempts on Pope Francis's life were thwarted.
Images source: © Getty Images
Aneta Polak

Pope Francis, in his autobiography, which will be published in January, disclosed that during his March 2021 visit to Iraq, two assassination attempts on his life were foiled. Fragments of the book were published by the newspaper "Corriere della Sera" on the Pope's 88th birthday.

Dangerous journey to Iraq

In the book, the Pope revealed that nearly everyone had advised him against undertaking this journey, his first to this part of the Middle East, a region devastated by extremist violence and desecration by jihadists.

Moreover, the Covid-19 pandemic was ongoing during that time, and the apostolic nuncio in Baghdad, Archbishop Mitja Leskovar, was infected with the virus. Despite this, Francis felt he should go there, although the threat to his safety was very high.

The Pope shared that the police had alerted the Vatican gendarmerie about intelligence from British special services, warning of a young female suicide bomber carrying explosives who was allegedly heading to Mosul with plans to detonate during his visit. There was also information about a lorry reportedly aiming for the same target.

Thwarted attempts on the Pope's life. What about the assassins?

After the visit to Mosul, the Pope asked the Vatican gendarmerie about the fate of the failed assassins. He was told that "they are no longer there."

"The Iraqi police had intercepted them, and detonated them," the Pope heard in response.

Francis emphasized that this event deeply moved him, calling it "the poisonous fruit of war."

During his visit to Iraq, which Francis made as the first Bishop of Rome, the Pope appeared in Baghdad, the ancient city of Ur, and in Mosul and Karakosh, which were previously under the control of the Islamic State, as well as in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Let's recall: on Tuesday, 17th December, the Pope celebrates his 88th birthday. Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on 17th December 1936, in a poor district of Buenos Aires, in a family of Italian immigrants. He was elected Pope at the age of 77.

Despite his advanced age and health issues, the Pope is not slowing down or giving up travelling. Next year, he plans to visit Turkey for the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea. He may also travel to the Canary Islands.

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