Pope Francis narrowly escaped two assassination attempts during his groundbreaking visit to Iraq in March 2021, according to excerpts from his upcoming autobiography, Hope, published by Italian media on Tuesday.
In the memoir, set for release in over 80 countries in January, the pontiff detailed warnings from British intelligence about imminent threats to his life.
“A woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit,” Pope Francis wrote. “And a van had also set off at great speed with the same intention.”
Both attackers were intercepted and killed by Iraqi police before they could carry out their plans.
Despite warnings and advice to cancel the trip, the Pope insisted on going, stating, “I wanted to get to the bottom of things. I felt I had to do it.”
The historic three-day visit in March 2021, his first international trip in 15 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, included stops in Baghdad and Mosul, a former stronghold of the Islamic State. The visit occurred under tight security, coordinated by the Pontifical Swiss Guard, the Vatican Gendarmerie, and local Iraqi law enforcement.
Pope Francis, who turned 88 on Tuesday, reflected on the risks but underscored the importance of his mission in the war-torn nation. His visit was seen as a gesture of peace and interfaith solidarity in a region marked by decades of conflict.
