“The police had alerted the Vatican gendarmerie to information received from the British secret services: a woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit,” Francis wrote in an autobiography, entitled “Espère”, to be released in mid-January in more than 80 countries.
“And a van was also launched at full speed with the same intention,” he adds, according to extracts from the book published by the Italian daily “Corriere della Sera”. The suicide bomber and the driver of the van were intercepted and killed by Iraqi police. “Almost everyone advised me against this trip, the first by a pontiff to the hinge of the Middle East devastated by extremist violence and jihadist desecration,” writes Francis, who celebrates his 88th on Tuesday.e birthday.
“But I wanted to get to the bottom of it. I felt like I had to do it.” This historic three-day visit, from March 5 to 8, 2021, was placed under high protection in a country where clandestine jihadist cells were still hiding. It was the first trip in 15 months and in the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic. Despite the high risks for his security, the Argentine pope crisscrossed the country going to Baghdad, Mosul and Qaraqosh, in the north tormented by jihadists.
During his trips abroad, the Pope’s security is ensured by the Pontifical Swiss Guard and the Vatican Gendarmerie, in collaboration with local law enforcement.
