At a time when Italian, international press and media agencies gather in the squares of the Gemelli Hospital in the heart of the Italian capital, Rome, to follow up on the health of Pope Francis, who was admitted to the hospital a week ago, dioceses and churches around the world have begun calling on the worshippers to intensify prayers for the Pope's recovery.
The gargantuan solidarity that the sisterly Arab, friendly, and foreign countries express to Jordan's leadership and people is a source of great pride as it makes us proud of the wisdom and leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, and his steering of the Jordanian ship towards the shores of safety and stability, with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al-Hussein Ibn Abdullah II by his side.
On February 3, 2025, the Vatican hosted the first World Summit on Children’s Rights gathering panelists advocating for children’s rights, including Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan. This initiative can be viewed as a timely and noble step designed to clearly shed light on the children’s rights at a time when such rights have been marginalized in various countries in the world under the pressure of wars, violence, economic instability and rampant corruption.
"Jordan the Dawn of Christianity" exhibition was inaugurated in Rome a few days ago, under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, and marked in the presence of the minister of tourism, a number of members of parliament, a number of pilgrimage directors in Italy, as well as press and media personnel. I was honored to attend this exhibition, which was supervised and directed by my dear classmate Iyad Al-Khuzouz, with whom I pursued my studies at the National Patriarchal College which is affiliated with the Latin Patriarchate in Ashrafieh in early 1980s.
Amidst the persistent turbulence prevailing in the Holy Land, Bethlehem University continues to “stand tall” and remain steadfast in maintaining its noble message of providing advanced and high-standard education to the people who are athirst to receive qualified education that would extricate them from the era of hopelessness and mark a shining future, whereby the graduates would turn over a new leaf in life and start a new and promising future.
In the Holy Land of Jordan, where the echoes and memories of prophets and saints continue to reverberate, a sanctuary has witnessed the unfolding of Christianity at the early times. It is the “Jordan Dawn of Christianity” exhibition, being held at Palazzo Della Cancelleria in Rome on January 31-February 28, 2025, which showcases Jordan’s Christian heritage.
The exhibition "Jordan: The Dawn of Christianity" was launched on Friday, January 31, 2025, in the Vatican under the patronage of Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Lina Annab, in the presence of the Jordan’s Ambassador in Rome Qais Abu Dayyeh, Director of the Jordan Tourism Board Dr. Abdul Razzaq Arabiyat, a number of religious and tourism personalities, a number of members of the Senate, and a remarkable presence of Italian and Vatican media coverage.
In the course of the activities of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan, CCSM Director Fr. Dr. Rif’at Bader has taken the lead by unstintingly calling for promoting interfaith dialogue, harmony, common living, and peace in the Middle East--which has been wrought for decades by successive waves of conflicts and instability--through holding lectures, conferences, and various kinds of gatherings.
In the year 2000, I recall writing an article titled, “A Blessed Feast in a Blessed Year,” marking the birthday anniversary of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein, may God protect him.
January 31- February 28 will mark an outstanding event in the history of Christianity.
