The Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, inaugurated a new church at the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ in Jordan.
Pope Francis appointed the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin, to consecrate the catholic church, the Church of the Baptism of the Lord, at the Baptism Site, also known as Bethany Beyond the Jordan, which is located about 40-minutes from Jordan’s capital city of Amman.
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The inauguration ceremony, which took place on Friday, January 10, marked the 25th anniversary of the Catholic Church’s annual pilgrimage to Jesus’ Baptismal site. More than 3,000 citizens from across Jordan attended the historic event as well as bishops, church leaders, and ambassadors from various countries. His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, His Majesty King Abdullah’s II first cousin, and His Majesty’s chief advisor for religious and cultural affairs, also attended the ceremony.
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“My presence here today, according to the wishes of the Pope, is meant to be a tangible sign of the closeness of the whole Church to the Christian communities of the Middle East,” Cardinal Pietro Parolin said.
The church’s foundation stone was laid by Pope Benedict XVI on May 10, 2009 during the early stages of its development. It was constructed following the supervision and donation of Nadim Muasher, who built it in memory of his eldest son following his tragic passing in a car accident near the Baptism Site.
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At the event, Muasher delivered a moving speech that highlighted the spiritual significance of the site and the importance of the Christian community in Jordan and the Middle East. He then handed over the church’s keys to Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, to open its doors with tremendous joy and gratitude.
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Jordan’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Lina Annab, who was also present at the ceremony, described the church’s inauguration as a tremendous achievement for Jordan and the world.
