By Smartencylopedia with Agencies
December 18, 2024 – Vatican City
A plot to assassinate Pope Francis during his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021 was foiled thanks to a tip-off from British intelligence, the Pope reveals in excerpts from his upcoming autobiography. The details of the assassination attempt, which targeted the Pope while he was in Baghdad, have been published by Corriere della Sera, an Italian newspaper.
According to the Pope, after his arrival in Iraq, he was informed that two suicide bombers were planning to target an event at which he was scheduled to appear. The attackers were subsequently intercepted and killed by Iraqi security forces, who were alerted by British intelligence.
The pontiff’s visit to Iraq, the first-ever papal visit to the country, took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a symbolic journey to a nation ravaged by years of sectarian violence, particularly between Shia and Sunni Muslims, as well as persecution of religious minorities. Iraq’s Christian population had been severely diminished, with many targeted by the Islamic State group and other Sunni extremist factions.
In the book, entitled Hope, Pope Francis recounts how many advised him against the trip, given the ongoing instability and danger. However, he felt a deep moral obligation to visit. He writes, “almost everyone advised me against” the visit, but he firmly believed he “had to do it” to stand in solidarity with the country’s beleaguered Christian community.
The plot to kill the Pope was reportedly uncovered when British intelligence warned Iraqi authorities of two would-be suicide bombers planning to strike during the papal visit. One attacker, described by the Pope as a woman carrying explosives, was heading towards Mosul, while the other was driving a van filled with explosives, both aiming to carry out their mission during the Pope’s stay.
The Pope recalls asking a security official the following day about the fate of the attackers, to which the official responded succinctly: “They are no more.” The Iraqi police had intercepted the attackers and neutralized them, preventing a tragedy.
The Pope’s memoir, Hope, is set to be published on January 14, 2025. The Vatican has not yet issued a public statement regarding the assassination attempt, though the revelation of the plot is expected to garner significant international attention.
This foiled attack is a reminder of the extreme risks associated with papal visits to regions of conflict, especially where religious tensions and terrorism remain significant threats. It also highlights the critical role of intelligence-sharing between nations, with British authorities playing a key part in preventing an attack that could have had devastating consequences.