Pope Francis Reveals Foiled Suicide Bombing Plot During Iraq Visit

 

Pope Francis has disclosed that he narrowly avoided a double suicide bombing during his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021. The revelation comes from excerpts of his upcoming autobiography, Spera (Hope), shared with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on Tuesday, coinciding with the Pope’s 88th birthday.

In the memoir, authored by Italian writer Carlo Musso and set for release in January, the pontiff recounts the chilling events surrounding his visit, the first-ever by a pope to Iraq. Shortly after landing in Baghdad, Francis learned from his security team that two suicide bombers had targeted an event he was scheduled to attend.

According to the Pope, British intelligence uncovered the plot and alerted Iraqi police, who subsequently intercepted the attackers. One was a young female suicide bomber en route to Mosul, while the other involved a van speeding toward a location linked to the papal visit. Both were neutralized before carrying out their missions.

When Francis later inquired about the fate of the attackers, a Vatican security official reportedly responded, “They are no more.” The attackers were intercepted and killed by Iraqi authorities, ensuring the safety of the Pope and his entourage.

The papal visit, which spanned three days during the COVID-19 pandemic, was marked by heightened security measures. Despite widespread warnings against the trip due to Iraq’s volatile security situation, Pope Francis insisted on going, citing the need to bring hope to a region ravaged by sectarian violence and persecution.

In his book, the Pope reflects on his decision, stating, “Almost everyone advised me against [the visit], but I felt I had to do it.”

At the time, Iraq’s Christian community had been decimated, particularly under the Islamic State’s reign of terror, which targeted religious minorities. The Pope’s visit was seen as a gesture of solidarity with Iraq’s remaining Christians and an appeal for interfaith harmony in the war-torn nation.

Hope, the Pope’s autobiography, is set to be published on January 14, 2025. The book promises to offer deeper insights into the challenges, faith, and courage that have defined Francis’s papacy, including this harrowing chapter during his visit to Iraq.

The Pope’s revelations highlight the dangers he has faced in his mission to foster peace and dialogue, even in the most perilous of circumstances.