During his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021, Pope Francis faced two life-threatening assassination attempts, as detailed in excerpts from his upcoming autobiography, Hope, released Tuesday by Italian media.
The Vatican’s security team received an urgent warning from British intelligence about two imminent threats. “A young suicide bomber, a woman packed with explosives, was heading towards Mosul to detonate during my visit,” Francis wrote. He also described a second threat involving a speeding van, both of which were intercepted and neutralized by Iraqi police.
Despite widespread advice against the trip due to the high risks, Francis, who turned 88 on Tuesday, felt a deep sense of purpose. “I wanted to get to the bottom of things. I felt I had to do it,” he shared in his memoir.
The three-day visit, his first in 15 months, occurred under heavy security and amidst the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Undeterred, the Argentine pope traveled to Baghdad, Mosul, and other regions, including former strongholds of the Islamic State. Security for the trip was coordinated by the Pontifical Swiss Guard and Vatican Gendarmerie alongside local law enforcement.
Hope is slated for release in over 80 countries this January.
