Pope Francis Reveals Foiled Assassination Attempts During Historic Iraq Visit

The 2021 plot, involving two suicide bombers, was thwarted by British intelligence and Iraqi police, as recounted in the Pope's new autobiography.

Pope Francis disclosed that two assassination attempts targeting him during his March 2021 visit to Iraq were stopped by British intelligence and Iraqi police.
One would-be attacker, a female suicide bomber, and a van carrying explosives were intercepted before they could reach Mosul, where the Pope was delivering a message of peace.
The Pope's visit to Iraq marked the first by a pontiff and was seen as a significant gesture of solidarity with the country's persecuted Christian minority.
Despite high security risks and advice against the trip, Pope Francis felt compelled to proceed, describing the journey as a mission of hope and reconciliation.
The revelations are detailed in 'Hope,' the Pope's first autobiography, set to be released in January 2025 in over 80 countries.