Pope Francis is refusing to wear a bullet-proof vest for his Christmas address despite warnings by the police that he is an ISIS target. Photo: AGF/Stutterstock

The Pope's spokesman said the pontiff was aware of the threats but was 'not afraid' of Daesh and refused to have alterations made to his Popemobile to protect himself during this year's Christmas Day message, according to Express.co.uk.

The Islamist terrorist organisation has released a string of propaganda videos threatening to launch Paris-style attacks on Rome and Pope Francis is considered a specific target as head of the Catholic church, Express.co.uk reports.

Police advised the Pope to boost security in light of the threats, but he refused to change his famously relaxed style of leadership.

The Vatican spokesman told Express.co.uk: 'He is not afraid.

'Pope Francis knows everything [about the threat from ISIS] but he doesn't want to lose the contact with the people'.

The Vatican says it is doing everything it can to keep the Pope safe.

Father Ciro Benedettini told Express.co.uk the church was aware of ISIS videos, but that 'there is no specific threat apart from those coming from the IS or Daesh on the web.

'There are some pictures of the black flag [of ISIS] on St Peter's.

'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.'

Asked how the Vatican was responding to the threat, the deputy media director told Express.co.uk: '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.'