JORDAN - Please find below the message of His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, which he read during his meeting, alongside Patriarch Theophilos III and the Islamic Waqf representatives, with King Abdullah II of Jordan, on April 27, 2021.
Your Majesty,
In recent days, our city of Jerusalem has once again been at the center of tensions, divisions, and expressions of hatred. We have seen the events in media images, in the news, and with our own eyes. Unfortunately, this is not the first time, and we fear it will not even be the last. In this particular time of the holy month of Ramadan, and here in Jerusalem where the Feasts of Easter have recently been celebrated and are still being celebrated, this should be a time full of joy, and everyone's thoughts should be turned to God, in whom we all find ourselves as brothers. The Holy Father, Pope Francis has repeatedly emphasized this concept in many recent statements.
Jerusalem, the Holy City, should be the Place where all this becomes visible, tangible and celebrated by all its inhabitants. But this is not the case. This is not yet the case. We need to pray a great deal and with sincerity, for God to touch the hardened hearts of men.
But we must also all work together, so that this situation ends, and Jerusalem once again becomes the Holy City, a city of prayer, hospitality and open to all.
In this sense, your role, Majesty, is appreciated.
In this year that we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, it is important to reiterate the historically and actual role that the Hashemite House plays for the city of Jerusalem, as a guarantor of the equality of all its citizens, of all faiths, who have in their Holy Places, places of prayer, of welcome, of peaceful encounter and not a battleground. Your Majesty's commitment to free access to the Holy Places of Jerusalem, the commitment to its unity in plurality, to fostering the inter-religious dialogue and the attention to the Christian communities, is internationally recognized. Are numerous, in fact, the statements of Your Majesty over the city of Jerusalem that call to the free access to the Holy Places and the respect of the Status Quo. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem considers Your Majesty's strong voice as a call to achieve justice and peace.
We ask God to bless you and your dear people of Jordan. We take this opportunity to congratulate your Majesty, the Hashemite family and the people of Jordan, whose contribution to the stability of our region is vital. Jordan, which has crossed its history with various challenges, will remain strong and stable, and by keeping united its components with leadership, can always transform challenges into opportunities.
Jordan's strength lies in the unity of its citizens. Your distinguished openness has contributed to create a community where Christians and Muslims are partners in citizenship and destiny, and we must always strive to deepen this partnership for the sake of the common good in the Jordanian society. May this example become a model also for other countries of the Region.
Your Majesty, we ask God to guide your steps and grant you wisdom for the good of the people of Jordan and the stability of the country, and we, in turn, will continue to pray and cooperate with Your Majesty to serve Jordan and its dear people.
+ Pierbattista
27 April 2021
