Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on Monday (April 21). The Vatican confirmed in a video statement on Monday (April 21). His death comes after a 12-year papacy. 
In January, Pope Francis had claimed that he escaped two attempts on his life during his historic visit to Iraq in 2021. He made this claim in his autobiography.&nbsp;
On Tuesday (Dec 17), Italian media published an excerpt from the autobiography titled "Hope" which talked about Pope Francis being targeted. The autobiography is due to be released on January 14.&nbsp;
<h2>The attempts on Pope's life</h2>
Pope Francis, who turned 88 on Tuesday, said that during his visit to Iraq, "A woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit."
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-for-the-first-time-uses-genocide-for-israels-actions-in-gaza-calls-for-investigation-776996">Pope Francis, for the first time, labels Israel's actions in Gaza as 'genocide'; calls for investigation</a>
"And a van had also set off at great speed with the same intention," he added. According to Italian media, two attackers were intercepted and killed by the Iraqi police.
Pope's historic visit to Iraq in March 2021 lasted for three days. At that time, this was&nbsp;Francis's first trip in 15 months and took place in the middle of the Covid pandemic.
<h2>'Almost everyone advised me against Iraq visit'</h2>
The excerpt from the pope's biography further revealed that "almost everyone advised me" against the visit to Iraq, "but I wanted to get to the bottom of things. I felt I had to do it."
Also watch | Pope elevates 21 new cardinals
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During his trips abroad, the pope's security is taken care of by the Pontifical Swiss Guard and the Vatican Gendarmerie, in collaboration with local law enforcement.
(With inputs from agencies)

During his trips abroad, the pope's security is taken care of by the Pontifical Swiss Guard and the Vatican Gendarmerie, in collaboration with local law enforcement.

Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on Monday (April 21). The Vatican confirmed in a video statement on Monday (April 21). His death comes after a 12-year papacy. In January, Pope Francis had claimed that he escaped two attempts on his life during his historic visit to Iraq in 2021. He made this claim in his autobiography. On Tuesday (Dec 17), Italian media published an excerpt from the autobiography titled "Hope" which talked about Pope Francis being targeted. The autobiography is due to be released on January 14. The attempts on Pope's life Pope Francis, who turned 88 on Tuesday, said that during his visit to Iraq, "A woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit." Also read | Pope Francis, for the first time, labels Israel's actions in Gaza as 'genocide'; calls for investigation "And a van had also set off at great speed with the same intention," he added. According to Italian media, two attackers were intercepted and killed by the Iraqi police. Pope's historic visit to Iraq in March 2021 lasted for three days. At that time, this was Francis's first trip in 15 months and took place in the middle of the Covid pandemic. 'Almost everyone advised me against Iraq visit' The excerpt from the pope's biography further revealed that "almost everyone advised me" against the visit to Iraq, "but I wanted to get to the bottom of things. I felt I had to do it." Also watch | Pope elevates 21 new cardinals During his trips abroad, the pope's security is taken care of by the Pontifical Swiss Guard and the Vatican Gendarmerie, in collaboration with local law enforcement. (With inputs from agencies)

When Pope Francis escaped two attempts on his life during 2021 Iraq visit

Pope Francis has said that he escaped two attempts on his life during his historic visit to Iraq in 2021. He made this claim in his upcoming autobiography, which will be released next month.

Pope Francis has said that he escaped two attempts on his life during his historic visit to Iraq in 2021. He made this claim in his upcoming autobiography, which will be released next month. On Tuesday (Dec 17), Italian media published an excerpt from the autobiography titled "Hope" which talked about Pope Francis being targeted. The autobiography is due to be released on January 14. The attempts on Pope's life Pope Francis, who turned 88 on Tuesday, said that during his visit to Iraq, "A woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit." Also read | Pope Francis, for the first time, labels Israel's actions in Gaza as 'genocide'; calls for investigation "And a van had also set off at great speed with the same intention," he added. According to Italian media, two attackers were intercepted and killed by the Iraqi police. Pope's historic visit to Iraq in March 2021 lasted for three days. At that time, this was Francis's first trip in 15 months and took place in the middle of the Covid pandemic. 'Almost everyone advised me against Iraq visit' The excerpt from the pope's biography further revealed that "almost everyone advised me" against the visit to Iraq, "but I wanted to get to the bottom of things. I felt I had to do it." Also watch | Pope elevates 21 new cardinals During his trips abroad, the pope's security is taken care of by the Pontifical Swiss Guard and the Vatican Gendarmerie, in collaboration with local law enforcement. (With inputs from agencies)

Pope Francis says he escaped two attempts on his life during 2021 Iraq visit

Pope&nbsp;Francis&nbsp;decried the state of democracy and warned against "populists" during a short visit to Trieste in Italy's northeast on Sunday ahead of a 12-day trip to Asia -- the longest of his papacy.

"Democracy is not in good health in the world today,"&nbsp;Francis&nbsp;said during a speech at the city's convention centre to close a national Catholic event.

Without naming any countries, the&nbsp;pope&nbsp;warned against "ideological temptations and populists" on the day France holds the second round of a snap parliamentary vote that looks set to see the far-right National Rally (RN) party take the largest share of the vote.

"Ideologies are seductive. Some people compare them to the Pied Piper of Hamelin: they seduce but lead you to deny yourself," he said in reference&nbsp;to the German fairytale.

"The culture of rejection creates a city where there is no place for the poor, the unborn, the fragile, the sick, children, women, the young," he regretted, urging facilitation of social participation from childhood.

Ahead of last month's European parliament elections, bishops in several countries also warned about the rise of populism and nationalism, with far-right parties already holding the reins to power in Italy, Hungary and the Netherlands.

Francis&nbsp;also urged people to "move away from polarisations that impoverish" and hit out at "self-referential power".

After Venice in April and Verona in May, the half-day trip to Trieste, a city of 200,000 inhabitants on the Adriatic Sea that borders Slovenia,&nbsp;marked the third one within Italy this year for the 87-year-old pontiff, who has suffered increasing health problems in recent years.

Since travelling to the French city of Marseille in September 2023, the Argentine Jesuit has limited himself to domestic travel.

But he plans to spend nearly two weeks in Asia in September visiting Indonesia, Singapore and the islands of Papua New Guinea and East Timor.

He arrived in Trieste shortly before 9:00 am (0600 GMT) and embarked on meetings with various groups from the religious and academic spheres, along with migrants and the disabled.

Pope&nbsp;Francis&nbsp;concluded his visit with a mass in front of some 8,500 worshippers in the city's main public square before heading back to the Vatican in the early afternoon.

Pope Francis decried the state of democracy and warned against "populists" during a short visit to Trieste in Italy's northeast on Sunday ahead of a 12-day trip to Asia -- the longest of his papacy.

Pope Francis decried the state of democracy and warned against "populists" during a short visit to Trieste in Italy's northeast on Sunday ahead of a 12-day trip to Asia -- the longest of his papacy. "Democracy is not in good health in the world today," Francis said during a speech at the city's convention centre to close a national Catholic event. Without naming any countries, the pope warned against "ideological temptations and populists" on the day France holds the second round of a snap parliamentary vote that looks set to see the far-right National Rally (RN) party take the largest share of the vote. "Ideologies are seductive. Some people compare them to the Pied Piper of Hamelin: they seduce but lead you to deny yourself," he said in reference to the German fairytale. "The culture of rejection creates a city where there is no place for the poor, the unborn, the fragile, the sick, children, women, the young," he regretted, urging facilitation of social participation from childhood. Ahead of last month's European parliament elections, bishops in several countries also warned about the rise of populism and nationalism, with far-right parties already holding the reins to power in Italy, Hungary and the Netherlands. Francis also urged people to "move away from polarisations that impoverish" and hit out at "self-referential power". After Venice in April and Verona in May, the half-day trip to Trieste, a city of 200,000 inhabitants on the Adriatic Sea that borders Slovenia, marked the third one within Italy this year for the 87-year-old pontiff, who has suffered increasing health problems in recent years. Since travelling to the French city of Marseille in September 2023, the Argentine Jesuit has limited himself to domestic travel. But he plans to spend nearly two weeks in Asia in September visiting Indonesia, Singapore and the islands of Papua New Guinea and East Timor. He arrived in Trieste shortly before 9:00 am (0600 GMT) and embarked on meetings with various groups from the religious and academic spheres, along with migrants and the disabled. Pope Francis concluded his visit with a mass in front of some 8,500 worshippers in the city's main public square before heading back to the Vatican in the early afternoon.

Pope Francis deplores state of democracy amid France vote, warns against ‘populists’

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Pope Francis on Sunday defended a landmark decision approving blessings for same-sex couples, suggesting that those in the Catholic Church who have resisted it have jumped to "ugly conclusions" because they do not understand it.

Pope defends conditional same-sex blessings decision, says those against have misunderstood it

Pope Francis has made some controversial remarks on surrogacy. He has called it "deplorable" and urged for a global ban on the assisted reproductive technology. Is this practice really deplorable or is it simply a matter of choice?

Gravitas: Pope Francis calls surrogacy deplorable

the Vatican City which has urged Bishops in high-profile Catholic leaders to tone down their comments on social media the vatican's communication department has issued guidelines to tame the toxicity on Twitter and other social media platforms now the appeal to all Catholics is part of a 20-page a document it's called the Pastoral reflection it emphasized that some remarks were causing divisions stirring up unnecessary arguments that harm the entire church the document also did not mince words when it came to the dangers of fake news online abuse it highlighted how people have become Commodities with their personal data being sold without their consent the Vatican condemned the rising polarization and extremism on social media labeling it as digital tribalism

Pope Francis warning on smartphone addiction, Vatican issues social media guidelines for Catholics

In a historic reform, Pope Francis has allowed women to vote at a global bishops' meeting. Is Pope Francis the reformer the Vatican has been waiting for? molly gambhir reports.

Pope Francis allows women to vote at Bishops' meet

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all latest news and top headlines from all across the globe. According to the Vatican, Pope Francis needs to spend a few days in the hospital in Rome due to a respiratory ailment. The 86-year-old has recently developed respiratory problems, according to a statement. US slams Myanmar's ruling Junta

Pope Francis in hospital for respiratory problems; US slams Myanmar's ruling Junta

Pope Francis ended his historic tour of Iraq on Monday, departing by plane from Baghdad after visiting conflict-torn cities, meeting Muslim and Christian leaders and preaching peace and coexistence over war.

Francis waved one last time before boarding a plane flying the Vatican and Iraqi flags from its cockpit windows. President Barham Salih accompanied the 84-year-old pontiff down a red carpet to his flight.

During Francis's trip, the first-ever papal visit to Iraq, he toured four cities, including Mosul, the former Islamic State stronghold where vast areas still lie in ruins, telling Iraqis that "peace is more powerful than war."

He said Iraq would "always remain with me, in my heart".

The pontiff, who walked with a limp during parts of the frantic tour, also made a historical first in meeting Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's top Shia Muslim cleric.

Iraqis welcomed the pope and said it was a chance for the world to see their perpetually crisis-hit nation in a new light.

Iraq suffers from chronic mismanagement and corruption, and a steady level of violence often linked to the region's US-Iran rivalry 18 years after the United States invaded.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pope Francis ended his historic tour of Iraq on Monday, departing by plane from Baghdad after visiting conflict-torn cities, meeting Muslim and Christian leaders and preaching peace and coexistence over war.

Pope Francis ended his historic tour of Iraq on Monday, departing by plane from Baghdad after visiting conflict-torn cities, meeting Muslim and Christian leaders and preaching peace and coexistence over war. Francis waved one last time before boarding a plane flying the Vatican and Iraqi flags from its cockpit windows. President Barham Salih accompanied the 84-year-old pontiff down a red carpet to his flight. During Francis's trip, the first-ever papal visit to Iraq, he toured four cities, including Mosul, the former Islamic State stronghold where vast areas still lie in ruins, telling Iraqis that "peace is more powerful than war." He said Iraq would "always remain with me, in my heart". The pontiff, who walked with a limp during parts of the frantic tour, also made a historical first in meeting Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's top Shia Muslim cleric. Iraqis welcomed the pope and said it was a chance for the world to see their perpetually crisis-hit nation in a new light. Iraq suffers from chronic mismanagement and corruption, and a steady level of violence often linked to the region's US-Iran rivalry 18 years after the United States invaded. (With inputs from agencies)

'Peace is more powerful than war': Pope Francis ends epic Iraq tour

Pope Francis is in Iraq for a landmark 4-day tour. This is Pope's 1st international trip since the COVID-19 pandemic started. He visited an ancient church torched by the Islamic State group.

Pope's Iraq Visit: Pope Francis honours conflict victims in Mosul

Pope Francis is in Iraq for a landmark four-day tour. This is Pope's first international trip since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Pope Francis will visit the former ISIS stronghold Mosul on Sunday. Pope will also meet the local Christian community.

Pope Francis will visit the former ISIS stronghold Mosul on Sunday

Pope Francis has arrived in Iraq on a visit to rally the country's dwindling Christian community after decades of war.

Pope Francis arrives in Baghdad

Pope Francis delivered an early Mass Thursday to a small congregation at St Peter's Basilica to comply with Italy's 10 p.m. curfew.

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in near-empty service