Amman: His Majesty King Abdullah II on Wednesday received Christian and Muslim religious leaders from Jerusalem and Jordan at Al Husseiniya Palace. The meeting, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, His Majesty's chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy, was an occasion for the King to extend best wishes to Christians in Jordan, Palestine, and globally on the occasion of Christmas and the holiday season.
According to Jordan News Agency, Patriarch Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine and Jordan, emphasized the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship over Muslim and Christian holy sites in the Holy Land. He highlighted the growing threat to the Christian presence in the region, noting violations of access to holy sites and the misuse of sacred texts by Christian Zionism for political purposes.
Jerusalem Awqaf Council President Sheikh Mohammad Azzam Al Khatib expressed gratitude to the King for his engagement with religious figures, particularly during the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. He underscored the Hashemite Custodianship's historical significance and warned of escalating Israeli actions in Jerusalem that threaten the status quo at Al Aqsa Mosque.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, praised His Majesty's efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and noted the King's support for maintaining both holy sites and the Christian community in Jerusalem. Looking ahead, he highlighted the upcoming significant religious anniversaries in 2030 and 2033, which will draw global Christian attention to Jordan.
Archbishop Hussam Naoum of the Anglican Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem reaffirmed the Custodianship's role in supporting the Church in Jerusalem. He condemned the violations by Israeli extremists against holy sites and stressed the necessity of preserving freedom of worship in Jerusalem.
Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh, and Awqaf Minister Mohammad Khalaileh were also present at the meeting.