Pope Francis security ramped up after pontiff receives three bullets in chilling letter

Pope Francis addresses Vatican crowds prior to colon surgery

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An envelope containing three bullets addressed to the Pope, 84, was intercepted by mail staff. Law enforcement officials were alerted to the letter by postal workers at a sorting office near Milan.

Police are currently investigating the threat which reportedly originated from France.

Italy’s Carabinieri police told the Daily Star the package had been intercepted before it reached the Pope.

In a statement, the force said: “We can confirm that during the night, in a sorting office in Peschiera Borromeo, Milan, the Carabinieri seized an envelope, with French postage, containing three bullets and addressed to the Pope — ‘Il Papa – Città del Vaticano, Piazza S. Pietro in Roma.’

“The investigation is ongoing.”

The bullets are understood to belong to a pistol.

The death threat comes as the pontiff prepares to depart for a trip to Budapest on Thursday.

The Star reports a ‘ring of steel’ will surround the Pontiff when he departs from Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport.

The Pope is expected to meet bishops and other church representatives in Hungary before undertaking another trip to Bratislava in Slovakia.

Police added the suspicious package contained a note “alluding to financial operations at the Vatican”.

News of the death threat comes at a difficult period for the Pope who recently left hospital after a pre-planned colon surgery.

It also comes just days after the start of a trial on July 27 which has seen 10 people indicted over allegations of mishandling Vatican funds – including a senior cardinal.

The multi-million pound scandal is focused around the purchase of a luxury property in London.

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According to Reuters, the Pontiff gave his personal approval to begin the trial against the senior figures.

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