The head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis, has disclosed how a planned double suicide bombing targeting him during his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021 was foiled by British intelligence and the Iraqi police.
The revelation, detailed in his forthcoming autobiography ‘Spera (Hope)’, highlighted the dangers he faced during the landmark trip. Excerpts of the book, co-authored with Italian writer Carlo Musso, were published on Tuesday by Corriere della Sera to mark the Pope’s 88th birthday, according to ‘The Guardian’.
Despite warnings about severe security risks and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Francis was resolute in making the journey, describing himself as a “pilgrim of peace.” The visit was the first-ever papal trip to Iraq, underscoring the Vatican’s commitment to interfaith dialogue and solidarity with persecuted Christian communities in the region.
During the three-day tour of six cities, including Baghdad, Mosul, and Erbil, security forces intercepted a woman who intended to detonate herself near Mosul and a truck reportedly speeding toward the same location with the intent to carry out another bombing.
In the book, Francis revealed his inquiry about what became of the would-be attackers after their plans were thwarted. He wrote, “The commander replied laconically, ‘They’re no longer here.’” Iraqi police reportedly intercepted the bombers and neutralised the threat. Reflecting on the incident, the Pope added, “Even this is the poisonous fruit of war.”
The trip, which included meetings with Iraqi leaders, visits to holy sites, and masses in cities devastated by the Islamic State, was hailed as a message of hope and resilience for a nation recovering from years of conflict.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis’ determination to proceed with the visit, despite the risks, underscored his commitment to fostering peace in the Middle East. His autobiography, ‘Spera (Hope)’, is set to be released in January, offering further insights into the pontiff’s experiences and reflections.
