Several suspected members of radical Islamic terrorist group ISIS were taken into custody in Indonesia last week for allegedly plotting to kill Pope Francis during his most recent visit to the country. For those who have studied the bloody history of Islam, its clear that no matter how hard we might attempt to deny it, the conflict that Muslims engage in on a frequent basis are motivated by their religious beliefs. It’s a spiritual war. These individuals wanted to murder someone who is viewed as the on-earth figurehead of Christianity.
Clearly, it’s a religious conflict they are seeking to start.
According to Ryan Saavedra of The Daily Wire, “Indonesia’s anti-terrorism police, Detachment-88, said in a statement that the seven suspects were arrested early in the week in various cities throughout the country, The Straits Times reported.”
The full names of the suspects were not released, but police said their initials were HFP, LB, DF, FA, HS, ER, and RS. Investigators made the arrests after receiving tips from the public but did not know if the suspects knew each other or if they were part of the same terror cell. A source told the publication that a search of one of the suspect’s homes turned up “bows and arrows, a drone, and ISIS leaflets.”
The source added that some of suspects had pledged allegiance to ISIS and that at least one of the terrorists belonged to an ISIS cell that carried out an attack on the country’s then-chief security minister in 2019. The terrorists were planning to kill the Pope because of his visit to Jakarta’s Istiqlal mosque and “the government’s appeal to television stations to refrain from the usual broadcasting of azan (Islamic call to prayer) while a live broadcast of Pope Francis’ visit was in session.” While speaking at the presidential palace in Jakarta, the Pope called out terrorists who act in the name of their faith.
“There are times when faith can be manipulated to foment divisions and increase hatred,” he explained. “Prejudices can be eliminated, and a climate of mutual respect and trust can grow.”
Indonesia has a very large Muslim presence with 87 percent of the nation identifying as Islamic. Almost all of those who are in the country are Sunni, which is the primary sect of the faith that many terrorist groups originate from.
"*" indicates required fields
Thankfully, this plot was thwarted. This time. But who knows if it’s the only one that exists? Perhaps ISIS is completely dedicated to launching an assault on Pope Francis. If that’s the case, then something more needs to be done to ensure his protection. If something were to happen to him at the hands of radicals, all sorts of civil unrest could result. And that might be what ISIS and other groups are after right now.