In a stunning revelation from his upcoming autobiography, Pope Francis has disclosed that he narrowly escaped assassination during his historic 2021 visit to Iraq. The groundbreaking trip, which took place at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, was nearly derailed by not one but two suicide bombing plots, according to excerpts from the pontiff’s memoir shared with an Italian newspaper.
The 88-year-old Pope, who celebrated his birthday on the same day the excerpts were published, recounted how British intelligence had uncovered the sinister plans and alerted Iraqi police just as he arrived in Baghdad. The Iraqi authorities then informed the Vatican’s security detail, setting off a tense behind-the-scenes scramble to keep the Pope safe.
Double Threat: A Woman and a Truck Laden with Explosives
According to the Pope’s account, one of the would-be assassins was a woman who planned to detonate herself in Mosul during his visit to the war-ravaged city. Simultaneously, a truck packed with explosives was racing towards the same destination, intent on causing maximum carnage.
In a chilling postscript, when the Pope later inquired about the fate of the bombers, a Vatican security commander replied laconically, “They’re no longer here.” Iraqi police had intercepted and detonated the threats. The pontiff reflected on this grim outcome as “the poisonous fruit of war.”
A Pilgrimage of Peace Amid Peril
Despite the grave dangers and the Vatican’s warnings against the trip, Pope Francis was determined to carry on with his mission to Iraq. Calling himself a “pilgrim of peace,” he sought to bring hope and healing to the country’s dwindling Christian population, which had suffered terribly under the brutal rule of the Islamic State between 2014 and 2017.
Even in the face of such threats, Pope Francis stood among the ruins of a Mosul church, urging Iraq’s beleaguered Christians to forgive the injustices committed against them by the extremists and to rebuild their shattered communities.
Unprecedented Security and a Clandestine Publication
The 2021 papal visit to Iraq required extraordinary security measures, with some 10,000 Iraqi police deployed to protect the pontiff and COVID-related curfews imposed to limit crowds. The fact that the assassination plots remained secret until now underscores the gravity of the threat and the great lengths taken to ensure the Pope’s safety.
Remarkably, the Pope’s memoir, entitled “Speranza” or “Hope,” is the first ever autobiography published by a sitting pontiff. Originally intended for posthumous release, it will instead be published in January 2025 to coincide with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee celebrations, a time for the faithful to reconnect with their beliefs.
A Pope Undaunted by Age and Infirmity
The revelation of the foiled assassination attempts underscores Pope Francis’s indomitable spirit and commitment to his global flock, even as he contends with the challenges of advancing age and declining health. Now often relying on a wheelchair or walking stick due to sciatica and knee problems, the Pope nevertheless maintains a demanding travel schedule, with over 40 international trips since his election in 2013.
As the world eagerly awaits the publication of “Speranza,” the Pope’s brush with death in Iraq serves as a stark reminder of the perils he faces as he carries out his mission of peace and reconciliation in an often turbulent world. Yet, true to his namesake Saint Francis of Assisi, this Pope remains undaunted, offering a beacon of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
