Consecration of new church on banks of Jordan River called a sign of hope for region

BETHANY BEYOND THE JORDAN, Jordan (OSV News) -- Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, told thousands of faithful that Pope Francis sent him to preside over the inauguration and consecration of a new Catholic church at the banks of the Jordan River as a sign of the universal church's closeness to all Christians in the Middle East.

It is officially recognized by the church as the site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.

Representing Pope Francis, Cardinal Parolin inaugurated and consecrated the Church of the Baptism of the Lord at Al-Maghtas, known in the Bible as Bethany Beyond the Jordan, on Jan. 10 in Jordan.

"I am delighted to be here with you on this historic occasion," Cardinal Parolin told the enthusiastic crowd of Jordanians, Palestinians and other Arabs together with foreign dignitaries.

During the Mass, Cardinal Parolin delivered a homily, read on his behalf in Arabic by Father Jihad Shweihat.

"Today we give thanks to God not only for the gift of this church that is being consecrated to him. Everything starts with the path that God became man and dwelt among us in this particular part of the world, this Holy Land," said Cardinal Parolin.

"Here, we are at the lowest point of the earth, but it is precisely here that God came to meet us, as if to gather into his embrace also those from afar," he said.

"At a time in history when this region is experiencing serious upheaval, it is important that Christians also make their contribution to the building of a just and peaceful society," he said. "I would turn my gaze beyond the Jordan and call for a ceasefire, the release of prisoners and hostages, and respect for humanitarian law," he added, voicing an urgent call regarding the unresolved crisis in Gaza. "May the hearts of the leaders of nations be moved to seek peace and harmonious coexistence between peoples."

Cardinal Parolin celebrated Mass, accompanied by the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, on the 25th, or silver, anniversary of the Catholic Church's annual pilgrimage to Jesus' baptismal site. The ceremony underscores Jordan's enduring importance as a Christian pilgrimage destination.

During the ceremony, an altar was anointed and dedicated, and relics of St. John Paul II and the recently canonized Holy Martyrs of Damascus and others were placed there.

Three popes have visited this holy site on the banks of the Jordan River: John Paul in 2000, Benedict XVI in 2009, when he blessed the church's cornerstone, and Francis in 2014. Pope Paul VI first visited Jordan in 1964, making Jordan the only country to have been visited by four popes.

During the Mass, Cardinal Parolin thanked Jordan's ruler, King Abdullah II, and his Hashemite royal household. The complex, built on land donated by King Abdullah II of Jordan, includes a church-shrine, two monasteries for friars and nuns, gardens, a visitor center, parking, a walkway and the Hill of the Cross, which offers views of the Jerusalem Mountains. A Jordanian Catholic, Nadim Muasher, designed and funded the structure. The Hungarian government was also a significant donor.

Before the Mass, Cardinal Pizzaballa told a press conference that Jordan is safe and he hopes to see groups of pilgrims visit. He said that separate male and female religious communities are on the site "to keep the place alive for pilgrimage, retreat, visits, and to welcome people. So, it is a living place."

"Hope is quite challenging today, but we need to be optimistic about hope, Cardinal Pizzaballa said, saying he lifts up prayers "for the restoration of the ceasefire and security in Gaza and the rest of Palestine," and also for Syria with new Islamist rulers and for Lebanon with its new president, Joseph Aoun, inaugurated Jan. 9 after going more than two years without one.

Jordanian Father Rifat Bader of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said this newest church joins other historic and important Catholic churches in the Holy Land; namely, the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

"We hope that as the Church of the Nativity has drawn people from all around the world to celebrate Christmas, that this Church of the Baptism of the Lord will bring many pilgrims and visitors to one of the most sacred places on earth for spiritual renewal and to experience our annual commemoration of Jesus' baptism on the banks of the eternal Jordan River," Father Bader, director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in Jordan, told OSV News.

The Church of the Baptism of the Lord, a large 2,200 square meter structure adorned with a huge painting of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist and stained-glass windows depicting Jesus' ministry, has also been adopted as a pilgrimage destination for the faithful to receive a plenary indulgence during the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. UNESCO designated Al-Maghtas as a World Heritage Site in 2015.

Cardinal Parolin held meetings with Jordan's ruler, King Abdullah II, and with local Catholic churches and other denominations during his three-day visit, his fourth to the Middle East kingdom.

His visit also coincided with the announcement of a new Jordanian exhibition in collaboration with the Vatican showcasing the Middle Eastern nation's pivotal role at the very start of Christianity to be debuted at the Vatican in February.

The exhibit, "Jordan: Dawn of Christianity," offers an immersive journey through 90 exquisite artifacts recounting the story of Christianity from its very beginning to present day curated from more than 30 archeological sites in the country.

Jordan's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Lina Annab told reporters Jan. 9 that this cooperative effort commemorates 30 years of diplomatic ties between Jordan and the Holy See, and coincides with the Vatican's 2025 Jubilee Year of hope and the 60th anniversary of Pope Paul VI's visit to Jordan in 1964.

"This exhibition celebrates and sheds light on the origins and heritage as well as the enduring legacy and presence of Christianity in Jordan. It also shows the exceptional cultural wealth of Christianity in Jordan," Annab said, adding that the exhibit will travel to various European countries after it debuts at the Vatican.

Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, the apostolic nuncio to Jordan, told reporters that Christianity has a rich history in Jordan where Jesus was not only baptized, but he preached there. It's where the Old Testament prophet Elijah was born and sought refuge, and Moses saw the Promised Land from the heights of Jordan's Mount Nebo.

"We have here (Jordan), in fact, the roots of Christianity. When I came to Jordan and began to travel to different places. I said, 'Ah ha, I read that in the Bible. But now I can see that myself," Archbishop Dal Toso told the press conference of his personal encounters.

"I hope that our people can come and have the same experience I had seeing the places and also understanding the message," Archbishop Dal Toso said. "I see this exhibition not just as a cultural event, but for us, it is a spiritual event because it can bring people nearer to the roots of our faith."