Indonesian police have foiled a threatening plot to assassinate Pope Francis during his visit to the country.

According to the US Sun, the attempt on the Pope’s life was discovered during his Asia-Pacific tour, sparking substantial security operations.

As Pope Francis began his 12-day journey across the Asia Pacific, starting in Indonesia—a country with a troubling history of terrorism—the authorities discovered the plot. Indonesian authorities, led by their anti-terror unit Densus 88, quickly escalated the heightened tension around his visit by acting on information received from public tips and social media monitoring.

The arrests of seven individuals involved took place on September 2 and 3. These suspects, known only by their initials for security reasons, had homes that harbored alarming items. Indonesian police discovered a bow and arrows, a drone, and leaflets associated with ISIS, underscoring the severity of the assassination threat.

It was reported that the suspects planned the assassination during the Pope’s visit to a prominent mosque in Jakarta. An unusual request to Indonesian television stations to cease broadcasting the Islamic call to prayer during the Pope’s activities broadcast also marked the sensitivity surrounding his visit.

Colonel Aswin Siregar of the Indonesian police highlighted the responsiveness of local authorities, stating, "We have a mechanism to monitor and filter. We had tip-off information from members of the public.” This proactive stance helped avert a potential crisis.

In response to these threats, Densus 88 took comprehensive legal actions to neutralize any potential harm to the Pope. Colonel Siregar elaborated, “Densus 88 has taken legal action against seven individuals ... who made threats in the form of propaganda or terror threats via social media in response to the Pope’s arrival. There was also a threat to set fire to the locations.”

This security alert underscores the ongoing religious tensions within the region and highlights the vulnerabilities associated with public figures on international tours. The question of whether authorities directly connected all arrested individuals remains unclear, revealing the complex nature of handling such national security threats.

Amid the security scare, Pope Francis continued to advocate for peace and dialogue over religious and cultural divides. While addressing a crowd at the presidential palace in Jakarta, he emphasized the dangers of people manipulating faith. “There are times when individuals can manipulate faith to foment divisions and increase hatred,” the Pope expressed.

His message resonated throughout his appearances, focusing on overcoming prejudices and fostering mutual respect and trust among different religious communities. Pope Francis, who is currently wheelchair-bound due to health concerns, maintained a schedule that included visits to Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore in addition to Indonesia.

The threat against Pope Francis follows other unrelated global security incidents, such as Taylor Swift canceling shows in Vienna due to threats and a knife attack in Solingen, Germany. These events collectively heighten the global alert on the safety of public figures and the broad impacts of domestic and international terrorism.

Indonesia's struggle with terrorism is well-documented, with notorious attacks in Bali in 2002 and Jakarta in 2009 still fresh in public memory. The ongoing vigilance by Indonesian authorities aims to prevent such incidents, ensuring the safety of both their citizens and international guests.

The recent thwarting of an assassination plot against Pope Francis exemplifies the meticulous work of anti-terrorism units like Densus 88 and stresses the importance of international cooperation in combating such pervasive threats.