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Pope Francis at Risk of Islamic State Assassination Attempts in Albania: Reports

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The Vatican has been warned of assassination attempts by Islamic State (IS) extremists preceding Pope Francis' visit to Albania, the Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

MOSCOW, September 16 (RIA Novosti) - The Vatican has been warned of assassination attempts by Islamic State (IS) extremists preceding Pope Francis' visit to Albania, the Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

"What has been declared by the self-declared Islamic State is clear – they want to kill the Pope. The threats against the Pope are credible," Iraq's ambassador to the Holy See Habeeb Al Sadr was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

"I believe they could try to kill him during one of his overseas trips or even in Rome. There are members of Isil who are not Arabs but Canadian, American, French, British, also Italians," the ambassador added.

The ambassador claimed the Pope angered IS when he spoke out against the attacks on Christians in Syria and Iraq by the jihadist group. The Pope's approval of the United States airstrikes and plans against the Islamic extremists only solidified his position as a target.

"This band of criminals does not just issue threats – in Iraq they have already violated and destroyed some of the most sacred sites of the Shiite faith. They have struck at Yazidi and Christian places of worship. They have declared that whoever is not with them, is against them. Either convert or be killed. And they are doing it – it is a genocide," the ambassador said of the IS" dangerous nature.

The Vatican has responded that it will not change any of the Pope's plans in Tirana including a Mass in the main square or increase security measures since it has not received any credible threats or risks to his life.

The Albanian capital visit on Sunday is in honor of the country's rebirth of Christianity after its eradication under the Communist rule of Enver Hoxna. The Pope is also scheduled to visit Turkey on November 29-30.

The IS, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) or Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), has been fighting the Syrian government since 2012. In June 2014, it launched an offensive in Iraq and seized vast areas in both countries, proclaiming an Islamic caliphate on the territories under its control.

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