Pope Francis reveals attempt on his life in Iraq
Pope Francis in Iraq. Photo: Corriere della Sera
Pope Francis shared a story in his autobiography Hope about how he narrowly escaped a terrorist attack during his visit to Iraq in 2021, Corriere della Sera reports.
The Pontiff recounted that he was strongly advised against traveling to Iraq in March 2021. The reasons cited included the raging Covid-19 pandemic and a high risk of terrorism, particularly in the city of Mosul. Despite these warnings, Pope Francis decided to proceed with the visit.
Upon his arrival in Baghdad, British intelligence warned Iraqi authorities about planned terrorist attacks, including one involving a female suicide bomber heading to Mosul.
"I asked the Vatican security service what happened to the suicide bombers. The commander replied succinctly: 'They are no longer here.' The Iraqi police intercepted them and forced them to detonate themselves. That also struck me deeply: even this is a poisonous fruit of war," the Pope wrote.
The Pontiff continued his three-day journey, visiting six cities in Iraq. To ensure his safety, 10,000 police officers were deployed, and a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
As the UOJ previously reported, Pope Francis stated that Ukrainians and Russians are brothers.
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