Vatican to celebrate holy jubilee year under the theme “Pilgrimage of Hope”
Celebrating the Vatican’s Holy Jubilee Year and commemorating 30 years of diplomatic relations with the Holy See, Jordan’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is set to showcase its Christian heritage through an upcoming exhibition titled “Jordan: “Dawn of Christianity” (“Giordania: Alba del Cristianesimo”) in collaboration with the Vatican to be held at the Vatican.
While celebrating the Vatican’s Holy Jubilee Year under the theme “Pilgrimage of Hope”, Jordan will also mark the 60th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s visit to the Middle Eastern country in January 1964. During this historic visit, Pope Paul VI met King Hussein in the capital, Amman, making him the first reigning Pope to travel to places where Christianity originated, and notably, the first Pope to do so by an airplane.
In a press statement, Jordan Tourism Board says that visitors will embark on an immersive journey through the history of Christianity, from its origins to the present day, showcased through treasures and antiquities curated from 34 archaeological sites in Jordan.
It adds that the exhibition will highlight the deep roots of Christianity in Jordan by featuring five pilgrimage sites recognised by the Vatican, the centre of the world’s largest religion, and the seat of the Roman Catholic Church.
The statement adds that the notable sites include the Prophet Elijah’s birthplace, Tel Mar Elias, Our Lady of the Mountain Church, which commemorates the shrine of Mother Mary, the final resting place of Prophet Moses, Mount Nebo, Machaerus, where John the Baptist was martyred and Maghtas, the birthplace of Christianity, where John the Baptist baptised Jesus, marking the inception of the religion.
Jordan Tourism Board says that it aims to highlight the country’s pivotal role in shaping the history of Christianity, showcasing its evolution from the baptism of Jesus Christ to the Byzantine era, through the rise of Islamic civilisations, and into the present Hashemite era. This will be depicted through ancient symbols and mosaics, such as the Ichthys and the story of Chirality.
Ahead of the event, Jordan’s current monarch and son of King Hussein, King Abdullah II, while advocating for the return of fundamental principles and shared values endowed by all faiths, recognises the presence of Christian communities that have lived in the Middle East for thousands of years.
“Our country is home to an historic Christian community. All our citizens actively share in building our strong nation. Indeed, Christians have been part of Middle East societies for thousands of years and are vital to the future of our region,” says King Abdullah II.