The King meets Christian and Islamic religious leaders from Jerusalem and Jordan.
Jerusalemites appreciate the King's efforts to maintain ongoing communication with Islamic and Christian religious figures.
Patriarch Theophilos III: The Hashemite Custodianship of the Islamic and Christian holy sites is a fundamental pillar for achieving balance.
Head of the Jerusalem Waqf Council: Israeli assaults target Waqf and educational institutions.
Cardinal Pizzaballa: The year 2030 will mark two thousand years since the baptism of Christ, and followers of the churches from around the world will come to Jordan.
Bishop Naoum: It is essential to preserve the freedom of access to places of worship including the Noble Sanctuary and the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem.
Speakers warn against "Christian Zionism" that misuses sacred texts for political purposes.
Speakers emphasize the necessity of preserving the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
His Majesty King Abdullah II received Christian and Islamic religious leaders from Jerusalem and Jordan at Al Husseiniya Palace today, Wednesday.
His Majesty congratulated the Christians in Jordan, Palestine, and the world on the occasion of the Glorious Holidays during a meeting attended by His Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, the King's senior adviser for religious and cultural affairs and His Majesty's personal envoy.
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem, Palestine, and Jordan, stated during the meeting that the Hashemite Custodianship of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in the Holy Land remains a powerful force for good and a fundamental pillar for achieving balance in times filled with anxiety and escalating challenges.
He noted the existential threat to the Christian presence is real and increasing, referring to ongoing violations and aggressions against the right to free access to holy places, and warning against "Christian Zionism" that misuses sacred texts for political purposes.
He added that Christians in the Holy Land are very concerned about the erosion of historical arrangements for the status quo and troubling violations committed by extremist groups against the Al-Aqsa Mosque, strongly rejecting these assaults, as any threat to the Islamic holy sites is a threat to the churches and Christian holy sites.
Sheikh Mohammed Azzam Al-Khatib, the head of the Jerusalem Waqf and General Director of the Affairs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, thanked His Majesty for his dedication to maintaining communication with Islamic and Christian religious figures on multiple occasions, including the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet of Love, Jesus Christ, peace be upon him.
The Khatib talked about the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy places in Jerusalem which extends to the Omar Pact, in protecting these sanctities and the Islamic and Christian identity in the Holy City, and strengthening the resilience of the Jerusalemites.
The Khatib pointed to Israeli aggressions in Jerusalem, noting that the city today is witnessing a dangerous escalation in the implementation of plans that legitimize occupation and seek to change the religious, historical, and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque and target Waqf and educational institutions.
In a speech delivered by His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of the Holy City, he emphasized the importance of King Abdullah’s efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, adding that during his visits to the sector during the war, he witnessed praise from priests, nuns, and families for His Majesty's diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to end the suffering of the people of the sector.
His Beatitude the Cardinal added that the King's care for the holy sites and his ongoing efforts not only preserve the stone sanctuaries but also the human capacities to keep Christians in Jerusalem and its future.
He affirmed that Jerusalem is the home for monotheistic religions, and His Majesty the King is the protector and conservator of the unique tableau formed from religious traditions and sanctities.
He noted that the coming years will see celebrations in 2030 for two thousand years since the baptism of Christ, and in 2033 for 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 Jesus Christ, peace be upon him (Al-Maghtas).
On his part, the head of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, Archbishop Hosam Naoum, confirmed that what has contributed and contributes to the resilience of the Jerusalem church is the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy places, which is considered a safety valve for the resilient and steadfast Palestinian people in the heart of their sanctities.
Naoum alerted that violations by Israeli extremists against Islamic and Christian holy places cannot be ignored and must be condemned in detail, emphasizing the necessity not to interfere with the freedom of worship and freedom of access to houses of worship, including the Noble Sanctuary and the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem.
He emphasized the importance of combating Zionist thought 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 Youssef Hassan Al-Issawi, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs Ayman Safadi, the Director of His Majesty's office, engineer Alaa Al-Batayneh, and the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohammed Al-Khalaileh.
