In a rare public interaction of Iraqis, American soldiers, and the Christian faith, the Iraqi Bishop of Basra held a Catholic Mass for American troops stationed in his region.  The Mass was held on Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq, on 8 August, by Bishop Imad Al Banna.  Approximately 50 people attended the service, which was delivered in historic Aramaic.

Army Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Morris, a Multinational Division South chaplain, said he commends Banna for working through the hardships his religion has faced during the years of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “He is a great example of a good shepherd,” he said.

[The Bishop] said he was grateful to be with the American soldiers for the Mass and thanked them for what they are doing for his country.

The American soldiers responded likewise to the Bishop’s visitation, fellowshipping with the Bishop for an hour after the service ended. 

Beyond celebrating their right to exercise their faith freely–even as they serve a combat role in a predominantly Muslim country–the soldiers recognized the significance of the day:

“I will never forget this day,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Ulmen, a mortuary affairs noncommissioned officer with the 34th Infantry Division, and a Minnesota resident. “It was an incredible experience to attend a Mass conducted by an Iraqi bishop, definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The event stands in stark contrast to the environment of Operation Desert Storm, in which General Norman Schwarzkopf prohibited filming of soldiers exercising their faith and encouraged Chaplains to remove their religious symbols in order to prevent offense in the region.

It is also a reminder that while the United States has made a public and concerted effort to demonstrate good will toward Muslims in the region, not everyone in Iraq practices Islam. 

As reported by the Armed Forces Press.