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[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo XIV appoints bishop who attended Masonic lodge opening in ItalyBishop Francesco Antonio Soddu, who attended a Masonic lodge inauguration in 2022, was named Metropolitan Archbishop of Sassari by Pope Leo on February 21.Pope Leo XIV has appointed a bishop who participated in the opening ceremony of a Masonic lodge as Metropolitan Archbishop of Sassari, Italy.The Holy See announced the decision to promote Monsignor Francesco Antonio Soddu to his new position in its daily bulletin on February 21. Soddu, who was originally appointed as bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia by Pope Francis in 2021, caused a scandal in September...

BAGHDAD — The Government of Iraq (GoI) hosted a joint press conference yesterday with Multi-National Force - Iraq in order to discuss the upcoming Security Agreement date of June 30 for U.S. combat forces to be out of Iraqi cities. Attending the joint press conference were: Mr. Abdul Qadir al-Ubaydi, minister of defense; Mr. Jawad al-Bolani, minister of interior; Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh, spokesman for the Government of Iraq and Gen. Ray Odierno, commanding general, Multi-National Force - Iraq. “GOI affirms that the American combat forces will completely withdraw by the scheduled date,” said al-Dabbagh. “There will be a specified number...

FOB WARRIOR — April 20 marked the start of a four-day exhibition at the Kirkuk Government Building, Kirkuk city, where photographs and information gathered from the youth of Kirkuk province were publicly displayed. More than 1,200 teenagers provided information for the display by filling out questionnaires, which asked about their dreams, hopes and plans for the future. Participants were also given cameras to visually record their daily activities so that government officials could understand what interests the city’s youth. Government leaders in Iraq have also begun to reach out to school-age children of the province in the form of book...

JSS SAB AL BOUR — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers bore witness to an historic event here as the national symbol of Iraq was raised over the Governance Center, Dec. 30. The raising of the flag formally symbolizes the transition of control from Coalition forces back to the Iraqi government in the area. Before officially raising the flag, Sab al Bour Nahia Mayor, Radhe Jaffar, along with Thamir Amud, Sab al Bour Nahia chairman, buried several items in a time capsule underneath the flag pole. Among the items buried were several compact discs, which contained pictures of all the Nahia...

A soldier of the Iraqi army 42nd Brigade, 11th Iraqi army division, hands out water to young boys before they wait in line for medical care at an abandoned school in the southern portion of the Sadr City District of Baghdad on May 8. The Iraqi army handed out relief supplies and provided medical care in an effort to help the people in the district. More than 250 people showed up to receive free food and medical supplies. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Cohen Young. CAMP LIBERTY — Residents in Sadr City continue to receive humanitarian aid from...