Amman, February 6 (Petra) – Pope Francis met with a Jordanian parliamentary delegation, led by First Deputy Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament Mustafa Khasawneh, on the sidelines of the “Jordan, the Dawn of Christianity” exhibition in Rome.

During the meeting, Khasawneh highlighted Jordan’s rich historical and religious heritage, describing it as an open-air museum that houses numerous churches and archaeological sites. He encouraged European pilgrims and tourists to visit Jordan and explore its deep-rooted historical landmarks.

He underscored Jordan’s significance as home to the Jordan River, where Jesus Christ was baptized, along with hundreds of religious sites of great importance to Christian tourists and pilgrims.

Khasawneh also emphasized the Hashemite leadership’s commitment to tolerance and coexistence, noting that Jordan’s constitution upholds justice and equality for all its citizens, ensuring their rights and duties without discrimination.

The parliamentary delegation including MPs Haitham Ziyadin, Wasfi Haddad, Hael Ayyash, Andre Hawari, Iyad Jabreen, Issa Nassar, Jihad Abawi, and Salem Omari stressed Jordan’s pivotal role in religious tourism. They called for greater efforts to introduce Christian pilgrims to Jordan’s holy sites, particularly the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ, inviting visitors to explore the Kingdom’s religious legacy.

The “Jordan, the Dawn of Christianity” exhibition is a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Jordan Tourism Board, and the Vatican. It aims to highlight Jordan’s status as the cradle of Christianity, showcasing the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ on the Jordan River and its enduring significance under the Hashemite era.

//Petra// AJ
06/02/2025 14:34:04