Khaberni - Prime Minister Dr. Jafar Hassan congratulates Christians on the occasion of Christmas and the imminent arrival of the new year, during his visit today, Wednesday to the Latin Archdiocese in Amman and his meeting with the heads and representatives of the Christian churches.
The Prime Minister emphasized in his speech during the visit that on such occasions, "the great values that the genuine Jordanian society was raised upon always emerge... the values of solidarity and brotherhood, and belonging to this nation, which has always been an advanced model in the region and the world with the strength of its national fabric, its vibrant diversity, and the unity and cohesion of its people."
The Prime Minister said, "In this sacred precinct, hearts always unite in love and faith, the sound of the call to prayer is heard, church bells ring in our cities and villages... we kneel to God thanking Him for His blessings... we rejoice together... and we band together as one body in all circumstances and occasions, so that Jordan remains always strong, impassable, and flourishing."
He added: The conscience of Jordan and its people turns towards the land of peace, to our Christian brethren and sisters in Palestine in general, and in Gaza in particular, who stand firm alongside their Muslim brethren facing hardship and injustice... to affirm to them that Jordan stands beside them, firm in its stances, and continuing its efforts to support them, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II.
He pointed out that we celebrate this occasion with our Christian brethren in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, and share in the celebrations of our Palestinian relatives in the most difficult of circumstances, reaffirming Jordan's steadfast and enduring position on protecting the Islamic and Christian holy sites in the Holy City of Jerusalem.
The Prime Minister said, "We share the joy of the festive season today, and we proceed every day in the journey of building our most beloved and valuable nation... one loving family, Muslims and Christians, and the blessed land of Jordan, whose shade we sit under and where the roots of Christianity deepen, and upon whose rocks and soil the oldest churches were built, shall remain by God's will, the most prominent model of moderation, balance, belonging, and sincere citizenship, praying to God that the new year brings goodness and blessing to our nation, our wise Hashemite leadership, and our dear Jordanian people."
In turn, His Excellency Bishop Iyad Twal, the Patriarchal Vicar, affirmed in a speech delivered on behalf of the representatives of churches in Jordan that the participation of Christians in their celebration of the glorious festivities embodies the reality that Jordan is one home that unites its children in love and mutual respect, confirming the depth of national partnership and brotherhood that we cherish, under the wise Hashemite banner led by His Majesty King Abdullah II, and his faithful Crown Prince His Highness Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II.
Bishop Twal said: "Together, we continue to build our homeland, which is governed by security and prosperity, and we solidify the shared values that distinguish our beloved country, where the efforts of the state complement those of civil society organizations and church institutions in serving humanity, upholding its dignity, and living righteous citizenship."
He pointed out the contribution of the Latin Patriarchate in the humanitarian and medical effort for the children of Gaza who receive treatment in the Royal Medical Services, executing an initiative by His Majesty the King to bring a group of children from Gaza for treatment in Jordan.
He pointed out that the Catholic Church, through its humanitarian and national mission, constitutes an important tributary in the comprehensive development journey led by His Majesty the King. It manages the largest non-profit educational network in the kingdom, starting from the American University, which is steadily moving towards full American accreditation to be the first and most distinguished in Jordan, extending through 62 kindergartens and schools from the north to the south of the kingdom, incorporating more than twenty thousand students from different components of society.
Accompanying the Prime Minister were the ministers of state for economic affairs Mohannad Shehadeh, Islamic affairs and holy sites Dr. Mohammad Khalayleh, political and parliamentary affairs Abdulmunim Al-Odat, culture Mustafa Al-Rawashdeh, digital economy and entrepreneurship Engineer Sami Al-Samirat, and tourism and antiquities Dr. Imad Hajjajin.
