AMMAN — His Majesty
King Abdullah on Tuesday expressed best
wishes to Christians in Jordan,
Palestine, and the world on the occasions of
Christmas and the New Year, at a meeting with church leaders from Jordan and
Jerusalem, a number of Christian figures, and Islamic awqaf representatives,
according to a
Royal Court statement.
اضافة اعلان
Speaking
at the meeting, which took place at Al-Husseiniya Palace, King Abdullah
commended the dedication of Jerusalem’s churches to the Pact of Omar and
coexistence, based on the historical and legal status quo.
Expressing
hope that the epidemiological situation would improve next year to allow
Muslims and Christians to visit the holy sites in Jerusalem, His Majesty
reaffirmed commitment to the religious and historical responsibility to
safeguard and defend Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, under the
Hashemite Custodianship.
The
Custodianship is “an honor and a responsibility before me, the Hashemites, and
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,” the King said at the meeting, attended by His
Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, His Majesty’s chief adviser for
religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy.
Also
at the meeting, His Majesty bestowed the Order of the State Centennial on the
Patriarchate of the Holy City and all Jordan and
Palestine, in appreciation of
its historical and religious role in preserving holy places, consolidating
Christian presence, and representing the Hashemite Custodianship.
Patriarch
Theophilos III, patriarch of the Holy City and all Jordan and Palestine,
received the order.
In
addition, the King bestowed the Order of the State Centennial on the Council of
Church Leaders in Jordan, in appreciation of its essential religious,
spiritual, and social role in unifying the positions of churches and
representing Jordan’s interests and those of their parishes. Council of Church
Leaders President Archbishop Christoforos Atallah received the
order.
For
their part, the attendees expressed their appreciation of His Majesty’s
positions in defense of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, under
the
Hashemite Custodianship.
They
also commended the King’s contributions for the renovation of Al-Aqsa
Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, Christ’s Tomb, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and
the Chapel of the Ascension.
In
remarks by Patriarch Theophilos III, delivered by Archbishop
Atallah, the patriarch noted the legacy of the Hashemite Custodianship, as an
extension of the Pact of Omar, in reference to Omar ibn al Khattab, one of
Prophet Mohammad’s companions and the second caliph.
He said
the heads of Jerusalem’s churches seek to highlight to the global Christian
community the violations committed against Jerusalem, warning that the
Christian presence in the holy city has become a target of extremist Zionist
groups.
Archbishop
Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, said, “Jerusalem
finds in Your Majesty a strong voice, calling for harmony and respect for the
‘status quo’. His Holiness Pope Francis acknowledges in you a strong testimony
of peace and dialogue for all our tormented region and a promoter of
fraternity.”
“We
extend our deep thanks to Your Majesty for your valuable contribution to the
restoration of the Holy Sepulchre, which is a solemn and appreciated work by
all Christians in the Holy Land and in the world,” he continued.
For his
part, Jerusalem Awqaf Department Director Mohammad Azzam Khatib highlighted
ongoing restoration efforts at Al Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, thanking His
Majesty for his directives to award salary raises to awqaf employees in
Jerusalem.
Awqaf Minister
Mohammad Khalaileh, Grand Mufti Abdul Karim Khasawneh, Chief Islamic Justice
Abdul Hafez Rabtah, Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi, and Director of
the Office of His Majesty
Jafar Hassan attended the meeting.
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