In spite of serious terrorist threats against him, Pope Francis is refusing to wear bullet-proof clothing or to use an armored vehicle during Christmas celebrations.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, the Vatican’s deputy media director, Father Ciro Benedettini said there would not be any special [security measures] taken by the Pope for Christmas other than what is already being done for him. As for the suggestion that he don a bullet-proof vest during the festivities, the Pope flatly refused.

"It is understandable in his position he doesn't want to wear a bulletproof vest - that is ridiculous to go on the altar in one,” Father Benedettini said. "It is understandable obviously that the police and the gendarmerie would like the Pope to be more protected, but that is something that can't be changed.”

The Pope is not afraid, the priest said. He “ . . . knows everything [about the threat from ISIS] but he doesn't want to lose the contact with the people.”

He added: “[Y]ou have seen that he has gone to Africa, he went to the Central African Republic which everybody asked him to avoid. He went there, he didn't have any danger, he was able to invite the imam to come with him in the Popemobile. He knows everything [about the alleged threat] obviously but he is not very concerned."

There are no new threats apart from those that have been appearing on the Internet which specifically target the Pope and the Vatican.

"There are some pictures of the black flag [of ISIS] on St Peter's,” Father Benedittini said. “It could be a real threat, maybe it is something just to show how powerful they are and that is really easy to do a post like that."

The police are pressuring the Vatican to do more about the Pope’s security, especially now that the Christmas season is approaching, but Father Benedittini does not see the need to go any further than where they currently are in regard to keeping the Pope safe.

"There are special measures, you see the presence of the police everywhere, also of the Italian soldiers with guns. I don't think there will be special [security measures] for Christmas apart from what is already there."

According to the Express, the latest ISIS propaganda video shows computer-generated tanks rumbling into a deserted Vatican while a narrator promises a final battle between “believers” and “crusaders” before ISIS takes over Rome and takes Christian women as slaves.

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