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Islamic State: Pope 'being targeted by Isis', Iraqi ambassador to the Holy See warns Islamic State: Pope is 'being targeted by Isis', Iraqi ambassador to the Holy See warns
(35 minutes later)
The Islamic State (Isis) is intent on killing the Pope, the Iraqi ambassador to the Holy See has warned the Vatican.The Islamic State (Isis) is intent on killing the Pope, the Iraqi ambassador to the Holy See has warned the Vatican.
Habeeb Al-Sadr, who has been the ambassador since 2010, has advised that one of Isis’ goals is to assassinate the Pontiff and claimed that the jihadists “don’t just threaten”, according to Italian newspaper La Nazione. Habeeb Al-Sadr, who has been the ambassador since 2010, has advised that one of Isis’ goals is to assassinate the Pontiff and said that the jihadists “don’t just threaten”, according to Italian newspaper La Nazione.
Shiite Muslim Mr Al-Sadr confirmed he did not have any specific intelligence on an impending attack, but cautioned that the depravity of Isis knows no bounds, as could be seen in their mass murder of Yazidi Christians and the destruction of holy Islamic sites. Mr Al-Sadr confirmed he did not have any specific intelligence on an impending attack said their "genocide" of Yazidi Christians and destruction of holy Islamic sites was an indication of
The threat against Pope Francis, 77, was widely discussed earlier this year after he had endorsed the ‘stopping’ of Isis and its persecution of 40,000 Christians in northern Iraq.The threat against Pope Francis, 77, was widely discussed earlier this year after he had endorsed the ‘stopping’ of Isis and its persecution of 40,000 Christians in northern Iraq.
He said in August that “it is licit to stop the unjust aggressor. I underscore the verb ‘stop’. I’m not saying ‘bomb’ or ‘make war’, just ‘stop’. And the means that can be used to stop them must be evaluated.” It was reported in August that security in Rome had been heightened after Israeli officials warned that the Pope’s censure of Isis had led the militants to target him.
It was then reported that security in Rome had been heightened after Israeli officials warned that the Pope’s censure of Isis had led the militants to target him. The Vatican played down this risk with spokesman Reverend Federico Lombardi SJ telling the Catholic News Agency: “There is nothing serious to this. There is no particular concern in the Vatican. This news has no foundation.”
The Vatican played down this risk with spokesman Reverend Federico Lombardi SJ telling the Catholic News Agency: “There is nothing serious to this. There is no particular concern in the Vatican. This news has no foundation”.
However, Ambassador Mr Al-Sadr referenced this allaying and said that the Vatican tells him to “be quiet and that the claims of Isis will not change their position”.
“In fact, [the Pope's] voice will be stronger,” Mr Al-Sadr adds.
The Pontiff is preparing to travel to the majority Muslim nation of Albania on Sunday and will go to Turkey in November. He also expressed a desire to visit Tunisia after meeting the country's President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki at the Vatican on 11 September.The Pontiff is preparing to travel to the majority Muslim nation of Albania on Sunday and will go to Turkey in November. He also expressed a desire to visit Tunisia after meeting the country's President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki at the Vatican on 11 September.
However, Father Lombardi has said that security on the trip to Albania will not be stepped up in light of the supposed increased threat and that the Pope will continue to travel “unhindered” in the open-air jeep that he used during his inaugural Mass in St Peter’s Square last year.However, Father Lombardi has said that security on the trip to Albania will not be stepped up in light of the supposed increased threat and that the Pope will continue to travel “unhindered” in the open-air jeep that he used during his inaugural Mass in St Peter’s Square last year.
During his journey in Turkey later this year he expected to visit Istanbul and take part in the feast of St Andrew on 30 November, the Catholic News Agency reports.During his journey in Turkey later this year he expected to visit Istanbul and take part in the feast of St Andrew on 30 November, the Catholic News Agency reports.
Mr Al-Sadr, however, said an assault against the Pope won’t necessarily happen in an Arab or Muslim-majority country, considering that some Isis fighters are from Britain, France and America.Mr Al-Sadr, however, said an assault against the Pope won’t necessarily happen in an Arab or Muslim-majority country, considering that some Isis fighters are from Britain, France and America.
Because they hold passports, “Isis could engage these fighters to commit an act of terrorism in European countries,” he said, warning that the Pope should be protected wherever he goes. He said the militants "have Western passports. Isis could send these fighters to commit a terrorist act in Europe," warning that the Pope should be protected wherever he goes.