Pope Francis faced two life-threatening incidents during his groundbreaking visit to Iraq in March 2021, as revealed in excerpts from his upcoming autobiography, Hope, shared by Italian media.
The pope detailed a critical warning received from British intelligence, alerting his Vatican security team about imminent threats. “A young woman carrying explosives was heading toward Mosul to carry out an attack during my visit,” Francis recounted in the memoir, set to be released in January across 80 countries. He also mentioned a high-speed van, similarly rigged for destruction.
Both threats were neutralized by Iraqi police before they could reach their targets.
Francis, who celebrated his 88th birthday on Tuesday, admitted that many had urged him to cancel the trip, given the risks. “Almost everyone advised against it,” he wrote, “but I felt compelled to go. I had to see it through.”
The pope’s historic three-day journey marked his first international trip in 15 months and unfolded amid the global challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the visit, he traveled extensively across Iraq, including Baghdad and Mosul—once a stronghold of the Islamic State group—under tight security.
Francis’s security during international visits is managed by the Pontifical Swiss Guard and Vatican Gendarmerie, working closely with local authorities to ensure his safety.
