Vatican police chief confirms ISIS threat to Pope Francis

The commander of the Vatican police force has said that ISIS terrorists pose a genuine threat to Pope Francis, but added that he has no knowledge of a planned attack.

“The threat exists. This is what has emerged from my conversations with Italian and foreign colleagues,” said Domenico Giani, inspector general of the Corpo della Gendarmeria, Vatican City State’s police force.

“At the moment, I can say that we know of no plan for an attack against the Vatican or the Holy Father.”

According to Cruxnow.com, Mr Giani made the comments in the latest edition of Polizia Moderna magazine. In the interview, Giani added that communication between the Vatican and a number of predominantly Muslim countries is good, and that this collaboration provided “valuable information” on ISIS.

Mr Giani went on to say that Pope Francis would not change his style of pontificate despite the apparent threat from the Islamist terrorists.

He said: “Even as Pope, he’s still a priest who doesn’t want to lose the contact with his flock. It’s us, those in charge of his safety, are the ones that have to help him, not the other way around.”

On Sunday, Pope Francis condemned the “intolerable brutality” of ISIS in his address to the gathered faithful in St Peter’s Square.