In 2002, I was invited by the recently established Al-Hussein Ibn Talal University to speak at an international conference on the thought of King Hussein Ibn Talal. Several views, expertise, and studies were presented about the insightful thought of Al-Hussein, may his soul rest in peace. Today, marking the 25th anniversary of  His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein Ibn Talal ascension to the Throne, I find myself also thinking about the development in the activities of Christian institutions during the period of this reign which is qualified by goodness.

In modern time, as has been the case most of the time, people get deeply involved  in  endless chores of life, get engaged with various mundane luxuries to the point that they deliberately ignore the presence of the Divine Power that controls every minute details relevant to daily affairs.

People are regularly involved with concerns relevant to securing financial affairs, among others, to ensure a decent life at a time when turbulent affairs stand in the way and difficulties continue to emerge from time to time.

Ten years ago, Pope Francis’ plane touched down in Amman, marking the 4th papal visit to Jordan and Palestine, in its capacity as a pilgrimage to the holy places. It was also the third visit during the reign of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein, who received at the same Amman Airport Pope John Paul II in 2000, Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, and Pope Francis in 2014.

Jubilation has been missing for a long time in the world, which has been suffering from intermittent wars associated with economic difficulties at a time when people live in a state of despair and fail to see a bright or promising future. Jubilation is the outcome of a state of stability associated with political, financial, and social satisfaction as well as meeting all tenets of a decent life. Jubilation is not only missing in turbulent countries, but also missing in the most advanced societies that boast scientific achievements in all walks of life.

The most wonderful part about the interview with His Royal Highness Prince Hussein Ibn Abdullah II is that he went to Ajloun in the second half of the wonderful interview, at a time when it is the first one by His Highness the Prince screened on an Arab satellite channel. He flew over Ajloun in his helicopter, to see the trees, forests, and beautiful terrain. He circled over Ajloun Castle, the site of Mar Elias and the grotto of Our Lady of the Mount, to be in his flight the largest promoter of Jordanian religious, historical, natural, and adventurous tourism.

A two-day conference titled, "Humanity at Times of War and at Times of Peace' has convened in its capacity as a partnership between the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies (RIIFS) and the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. This is not the first conference that has taken place between them, as there is permanent and notable cooperation between the two important centers that are concerned with dialogue among followers of religions.

With the spiraling rate of wars and violence in various parts of the world an alarming phenomenon has emerged, namely hunger. It continues to lash people everywhere while coating the world with thick layer of despair, hopelessness, malnutrition, and disease. Hunger is the outcome of wars, for whenever a war breaks out hunger looms in the horizon which negatively reflects on every walk of life. With the spread of hunger, other waves of violence erupt in various societies with people seeking a way of survival.

First: It is painful to celebrate Easter in two stages, especially this year, as the difference in timing between the two Western calendars, namely the Julian and the Gregorian calendars, has been five weeks. The matter is not in the hands of the current heads of churches. They actually inherited this or that calendar at a time when the quest for comprehensive unity remains elusive. May God forgive "the full moon" that made its quick guest appearance after marking spring, which elicited an early celebration in the Western calendar.

Whenever one turns on radio or television stations, one hears news of wars raging in various parts of the world that devastate large swathes of territories, kill and wound innumerable people, wreak havoc on all sources of life, and strip new generations of any hope for a bright future. Alongside these pieces of news, news reports also carry statements by officials calling for the attainment of peace, but  to no avail as no practical steps are taken in this direction.

The Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan has lauded the visit undertaken by His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein to the Holy See on Thursday, May 2, and his meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis.