Iraq beefs up security for pope amid rising violence, pandemic

A municipal worker walks near posters of Pope Francis, as he cleans a street next to St. Joseph Chaldean Cathedral, where Pope Francis will hold a mass, ahead of his planned visit to Iraq, in Baghdad, Iraq March 4, 2021. REUTERS/Teba Sadiq

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq is deploying thousands of additional security personnel to protect Pope Francis during his four-day visit, which comes after a spate of rocket and suicide bomb attacks raised fears for the Catholic leader's safety.

A senior security official who has been briefed on the security plan said that forces involved had been trained to deal with worst-case scenarios, from street battles to bombings and rocket attacks.