Averted Tragedy: Plot to Assassinate Pope Francis in Iraq Uncovered

In a revelation from his upcoming autobiography, Pope Francis discloses a foiled assassination attempt against him during his March 2021 trip to Iraq, thanks to a warning from British intelligence that led to the interception of two suicide bombers.

 

A plot to kill Pope Francis while he visited Iraq was thwarted after British intelligence provided critical information, according to excerpts from his forthcoming autobiography. During the Pope's journey to Baghdad in March 2021, he learned that a public event he was scheduled to attend was targeted by two suicide bombers. Both attackers were subsequently intercepted and eliminated, as stated in excerpts shared by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

This visit marked the first-ever papal trip to Iraq and spanned three days amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with heightened security measures in response to the heightened sectarian violence that had plagued the country in previous years, including clashes between Shia and Sunni Muslims, and the persecution of religious minorities. The Christian population, in particular, suffered greatly, facing significant threats from groups like ISIS and other Sunni extremists.

In his autobiography, the Pope recounted that he received numerous warnings against making the trip, yet felt compelled to proceed. He elaborates on how British intelligence uncovered the assassination plot and alerted Iraqi law enforcement, who then informed his security team upon his arrival. Describing the alarming situation, the Pope noted, "A woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit," detailing how a vehicle with the same deadly intentions had also been dispatched.

The day following the incident, the Pope inquired about the fate of the assailants, only to be met with the succinct response from a security official: "They are no more," indicating that the Iraqi police had neutralized the threat before it could materialize. The book, titled "Hope," is set for release on January 14, and the Vatican has not yet issued a comment on these revelations.