One of the plots involved a young woman believed to be attempting a suicide bombing in Mosul, a city that was once a stronghold of the Islamic State.
According to media reports, the pope shared these details in an excerpt from his upcoming autobiography Spera (Hope), which was released on December 17, 2024, on his 88th birthday.
In the excerpt, he recalled the high security risks surrounding the visit, stating, 'I had been advised against that trip by almost everyone, which would have been the first by a pontiff in the Middle Eastern region devastated by extremist violence.'
Despite the warnings, Francis felt compelled to make the journey. He explained, 'If your grandfather's house burns down, if in his country his descendants risk their lives or have lost it, the [best] thing to do is to reach the house as soon as possible.'
Pope John Paul II had also planned a visit to Iraq to open the Jubilee Year 2000, but was prevented by Saddam Hussein.
Francis said he felt it was important not to disappoint the people again, emphasizing the significance of the visit to the region's religious communities.
The full autobiography will be published in Italian in mid-January 2025.
IGIHE
