Militia leader who clashed with Iraqi cardinal ‘photobombs’ Pope Francis

Rayan al-Kildani was placed on a U.S. sanctions list for allegedly cutting off a handcuffed detainee’s ear

A militia leader who clashed with an Iraqi cardinal has been accused of “photobombing” Pope Francis at a general audience and attempting to present his picture with the pope as evidence of a private papal audience.

Rayan al-Kildani meets with Pope Francis at a Sept. 6, 2023 audience in St. Peter's Square in a photo shared widely on X (formerly Twitter).

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