Khaberni - His Majesty King Abdullah II received Christian and Islamic religious leaders from Jerusalem and Jordan at the Al Husseinieh Palace, on Wednesday.
His Majesty congratulated Christians in Jordan, Palestine, and around the world on the occasion of the glorious holidays, during a meeting attended by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, His Majesty's chief advisor for religious and cultural affairs and his personal envoy.
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, the Patriarch of Jerusalem and all Palestine and Jordan, stated during the meeting that the Hashemite custodianship of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in the Holy Land continues to be a powerful force for good, and a fundamental pillar to achieve balance in uncertain times filled with challenges.
He pointed out that the existential threat facing the Christian presence is a real and growing threat, citing continuous violations and aggressions against the free access to holy sites, and warned against the threat of "Christian Zionism" which misuses sacred texts for political purposes.
He added that Christians in the Holy Land are greatly concerned as they watch the erosion of historical arrangements of the status quo and the disturbing violations committed by extremist groups against the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, firmly rejecting these attacks, stating that any threat to Islamic holy sites is a threat to churches and Christian holy sites alike.
On his part, the head of the Jerusalem Waqf Council and the general director of the Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque affairs, Sheikh Muhammad Azzam Al-Khatib, thanked His Majesty for his keenness to maintain contact with Islamic and Christian religious figures on multiple occasions, including the anniversary of the birth of the apostle of love, Jesus Christ, peace be upon him.
The Sheikh spoke about the importance of Hashemite custodianship over the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, which dates back to the Umayyad pledge, a custodianship protecting these holy sites and the Islamic and Christian identity in the Holy City, and reinforcing the resilience of the Jerusalemites.
The Sheikh referred to Israeli aggressions in Jerusalem, noting that the city is currently experiencing a dangerous escalation in implementing plans that legalize the occupation and aim to change the religious, historical, and legal status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and target Waqf and educational institutions.
In a speech given by His Eminence Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of the Holy City, he emphasized the importance of His Majesty's efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, adding that during his visits to the sector during the war, he noticed the priests, nuns, and families praising His Majesty’s diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to end the suffering of the people of the sector.
The Cardinal added that His Majesty’s care for the holy sites and his ongoing efforts not only preserve the stone sanctuaries but also the human potential for Christians to remain in Jerusalem and its future.
He affirmed that Jerusalem is home to monotheistic religions, and His Majesty is the protector and preserver of the unique mosaic formed by religious traditions and holy sites.
He pointed out that the upcoming years will witness the celebration in 2030 of two thousand years since the baptism of Christ, and in 2033 of two thousand years since the Glorious Resurrection, where followers of the churches from around the world will come to Jordan, especially to the baptism site of Lord Jesus Christ, peace be upon him (Al-Maghtas).
For his part, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, Bishop Hosam Naoum, affirmed that what has contributed to and continues to contribute to the resilience of the church in Jerusalem is the Hashemite custodianship of the Islamic and Christian holy sites, which is considered a safety valve for the steadfast and encamped Palestinian people in the heart of their holy places.
Naoum warned that violations by Israeli extremists against Islamic and Christian holy sites cannot be ignored and must be condemned in detail, emphasizing the necessity of not infringing upon the freedom of worship and the free access to places of worship, including the Noble Sanctuary and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
He emphasized the importance of combating Zionist ideology in the church in the West, or what is called Christian Zionism, affirming that Christianity is innocent of it, and that it represents a real danger to the Christian presence in the Levant in general and Jerusalem in particular.
The meeting was attended by the head of the Royal Hashemite Court, Yousuf Hassan Al-Issawi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Affairs, Ayman Safadi, the Director of His Majesty's office, Engineer Alaa Al-Batayneh, and the Minister of Religious Endowments and Islamic Holy Places, Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh.
