Vatican.

This is coolbert:

"Italy on high alert for ISIL attack!"

NO SUCH THREAT OF THIS NATURE HAS EXISTED OR AT LEAST SEVENTY YEARS NOW.

"Extra Troops Posted in Rome Following ISIS Threat"

AND WITH NEEDED CLARIFICATION

"Rome on high alert with Islamic State just 300 miles from Italy"

Elements in league with the Islamic State three hundred miles from Italy. Elements the size of which undetermined.

"About 500 extra troops have been stationed around historic sites in Rome after ISIS made threats against the city last week." 

I can imagine full well an attack on the Vatican however effective or ineffectual for that matter having a propaganda and psychological value for ISIL almost beyond measure!!

"Italy, which is just 300-miles from jihadi-controlled territory in Libya, was referred to by the terrorists as 'the nation signed with the blood of the cross' in a recent video."

"ISIS has made repeated references to conquering Rome in its various messages, although there is some debate about whether 'Rome' in fact refers to a symbolic enemy, or perhaps Turkey or the United States."

The Salafists drawing inspiration from those first three generations of Muslims to include Mohammad. During that time of the Prophet there existing two "Romes". The first being the Patriarchy in Constantinople and the second the Papacy in Rome. One of those two "Romes" one gone for over five hundred years now, the second "Rome" as referred to by the jihadists obviously the Vatican!!

NOT for seventy years now during the era if the Second World War [WW2] during the Italian campaign has the Vatican been threatened. The fear at that time of the French colonial troops known as the goum rampaging through the Eternal City quite real!

History repeats itself? We hope not!

coolbert.