ISIS threatens to attack Vatican in new video

The Islamic State terror group has released a new video calling on "lone wolves" to carry out attacks on the Vatican.

The footage, filmed in the Philippines, showed ISIS-sympathizers destroying images of saints and the Virgin Mary as well as crucifixes. In the clip, one man rips a photo of Pope Francis in half, while another threatens to come to Rome.

"Remember this, you kuffar [non-Muslims] – we will be in Rome, we will be in Rome, inshallah [god willing]," one of the jihadists warned.

The video, titled "The Islamic State - Inside the Caliphate," was distributed by pro-ISIS media organizaton al-Hayat. A few days before it was released, the terror group incited Italian jihadists on Telegram by naming Italy as "the next target," following the deadly attacks in Spain that left 15 people dead and many more injured.

The pope's top aide, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said that he has already seen the video, but he noted that to his knowledge, no new security measures have been put in place as a direct result of the threats in the clip.

"I saw, yes, yesterday that video that was shown on TV: evidently, one cannot avoid worrying. Especially because of this senseless hatred that there is," he said, noting that the alarm level at the Vatican is the same as before.

Paloma García Ovejero, the pope's deputy spokesperson, said that the security measures have not been raised because the "controls are already very high."

"St. Peter's Square, as pilgrims and tourists can ascertain, is always very well protected," she said, according to Crux.

The Vatican has stepped up its security in the area surrounding St. Peter's Square following the rise of terrorist attacks in Europe, particularly after the attack in Paris, back in Nov. 2015.

"It may be only a matter of time before such an attack takes place in Rome. But we are prepared for it," said Commander Christoph Graf of the Swiss guards.

In his speech at the 27th General Assembly in Solothurn on Aug. 19–20, Graf noted that Swiss guards are not only known for being a tourist attraction, but also a modernized troop capable of facing a terrorist attack if and when necessary.

Following the attacks in Barcelona, more armed policemen and snipers were deployed on Via della Conciliazione, the main artery that leads to St. Peter's Square.

García Ovejero said that despite the security concerns, the pope "hasn't changed a thing in his agenda, nor is he going to."

"Furthermore, he'll continue to foment dialogue, creating bridges, defending peace. With Muslims and Christians," she added.