Pope in Jordan sees Christ's place of baptism
Jordan, Politics, 3/21/2000

King Abdullah II of Jordan welcomed the visit of Pope John Paul II to Jordan as a man of peace whose message for tolerance and coexistence is spread all over the world.

In a speech he read at Queen Alya International Airport, welcoming the pope, King Abdullah said, "The people of this land pin special importance on your historic visit. It reminds us of the visit held by Pope John VI in 1964. And now is your turn, which bears the hopes of a brighter future for those who can only remember the sufferings of the past and carries hope for the Palestinians who are eager to have back justice and stability, the hope for the Israelis to have security, the hope for the Lebanese in a better future and for the Syrians to end the chapters of sad wars," adding, "It is a call also for our brothers in Iraq of having a new bright dawn."

In his speech, the pope said there are important and urgent matters on justice and people's rights that should be settled for the interests of all sides concerned as a stipulation for attaining durable peace. The pope added, "Without peace there will be no genuine progress in this region, nor a better life for its peoples and a brighter future for its children."

The pope asserted that the three divine religions consider peace, reconciliation and honoring of man among their sublime values, hoping that that his visit will strengthen the fruitful Christian- Muslim dialogue.

He added he has been praying for the Jordanian people and for the refugees living in Jordan The pope arrived in Jordan on Monday afternoon for a two-day visit. He was received by a massive popular and official welcome, and the Jordanian government had prepared a full program for the pope including a visit to the shrine of Prophet Mousa at Nabou mountain and religious sites in Maadaba.

At Amman's international stadium at al-Hussein city, the pope today held a mass and visited al-Maghtas site at al-Kharrar valley where Christ was baptized by John the Baptist (whose tomb is now in Damascus inside the Umayyad's mosque).

Later in the day the pope will visit the Palestinian territories.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak considered the pope's visit to the holy lands as a historical turning point in the relations among religions and said that this visit has no political inclination.

The Israeli minister of regional cooperation, Shimon Peres, said that the pope is the first pope to visit a Jewish synagogue and the first pope to establish relations with Israel and, "We express our respect and gratitude for him over what he had done for Judaism."

Previous Stories:
  The pope starts visit to Jordan today   (3/20/2000)
  Pope visits Jordan on Monday   (3/17/2000)
  Pope John Paul II to visit Jordan and Palestine this month   (3/1/2000)

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