Amman – The Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, described the relations between Jordan and the Vatican as "excellent."
In an interview with the Jordan News Agency (Petra) on the sidelines of his visit, which concluded yesterday, he stated that the presence of the sacred site of the Baptism of Christ, along with other holy sites in Jordan, enhances the importance of the diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Kingdom, which will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their establishment in March 2024, during the official visit of the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher.
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He added, "I had the opportunity to convey the greetings of His Holiness Pope Francis to His Majesty King Abdullah II, whom I had the honor of meeting, and to all the Jordanian people."
He expressed his gratitude to King Abdullah II for his great diplomatic and political efforts and for the humanitarian support he provides whenever the region faces turmoil, particularly in Gaza.
He explained that during his meeting with Prime Minister Dr. Jaafar Hassan, he discussed many important bilateral matters, expressing his anticipation for the exhibition on the historical roots of Christianity in Jordan, which will soon open at the Vatican.
He affirmed that the Holy See is deeply interested in the Catholic and Christian communities in the Middle East, hoping for a larger number of pilgrims to visit the holy sites in Jordan, especially in 2025, which is the Jubilee Year for the Catholic Church.
Furthermore, he stated, "At the same time, I visited Jordan as a papal envoy to inaugurate the Church of the Baptism of Christ, which was consecrated last Friday at the Baptism Site. On that occasion, I had the chance to witness the vitality of the Catholic Church in Jordan, under the leadership of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa."
Regarding the importance of opening the Church of the Baptism of Christ at the Baptism Site, he said that this church will be able to welcome Catholic pilgrims from all over the world who wish to pray and celebrate near this sacred place.
He also mentioned that the large number of refugees living in Jordan demonstrates the country's care for people from neighboring countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Palestine, who have found refuge here.
He added that the Holy See contributes to efforts worldwide to initiate or strengthen peace processes for the benefit of peoples and communities, their basic rights and aspirations, and calls for the application and respect of international law.
He emphasized that values such as equality, territorial integrity, the non-use of force, and cooperation for development should be fundamental to any country that truly cares for its citizens and works for the common good.
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