Pope Francis narrowly escaped two assassination attempts during his historic trip to Iraq in March 2021, as revealed in excerpts from his upcoming autobiography, Hope.

British intelligence warned of a young suicide bomber and a van packed with explosives targeting the pope in Mosul.

Both threats were neutralized by Iraqi police.

Despite intense security concerns and the Covid-19 pandemic, the 88-year-old pontiff insisted on the trip, visiting Baghdad and Mosul, a former ISIS stronghold, during the three-day visit, Barron’s has reported.

The pope’s security was managed by the Swiss Guard, Vatican Gendarmerie, and local authorities.

Written by B.C. Begley