Pope Francis has made a shocking revelation that he narrowly escaped two attempts on his life during his visit to Iraq in March 2021. The Pope shared this personal story in his new book titled “Spera” (translated as “Hope”), which is set to be published on 14 January 2025. According to the Pope, most people had advised him against making the apostolic visit to Iraq due to the high-security risks and extremist violence in the region.
Despite the warnings, Pope Francis felt a strong obligation to visit Iraq and meet with the people, particularly in the city of Mosul, which he described as “a wound in the Pope’s heart”. The Pope was deeply affected by the city’s destruction, which was evident even from a helicopter view, likening it to “a punch in the stomach”. Mosul, once a thriving city with a rich history of coexistence, had been reduced to ruins during the three-year reign of ISIS.
The Pope’s visit to Iraq was not without its challenges, as he revealed that he had received warnings about two potential threats to his life. According to Corriere della Sera, an Italian newspaper, the Pope was informed about a young female suicide bomber who was planning to detonate herself during his visit, as well as a speeding truck that had been launched with the same intention. Despite these threats, the Pope’s visit proceeded as planned, and he was able to meet with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, which he described as a “joy and honour.”