Amman, December 17 (Petra)-His Majesty King Abdullah II on Wednesday received Christian and Muslim religious leaders from Jerusalem and Jordan at Al Husseiniya Palace.

At the meeting attended by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, His Majesty’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy His Majesty extended best wishes to Christians in Jordan, Palestine, and around the world on the occasion of Christmas and the holiday season.

In his remarks during the meeting, Patriarch Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine and Jordan, said the Hashemite Custodianship over Muslim and Christian holy sites in the Holy Land remains a force for good and a fundamental pillar for achieving balance in times of uncertainty and challenges.

He asserted that the existential threat to the Christian presence in the region is real and growing, citing ongoing violations and infringements on the right to free access to holy sites, and warning against the threat of Christian Zionism, which misuses sacred texts for political purposes.

The patriarch added that Christians in the Holy Land are watching with grave concern the erosion of the historic arrangements of the status quo and the disturbing violations committed by extremist groups against Al Aqsa Mosque, emphasising their categorical rejection of these attacks, as any threat to Muslim holy places is a threat to Christian holy places.

For his part, Jerusalem Awqaf Council President and Director of Jerusalem Awqaf and Al Aqsa Mosque Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Azzam Al Khatib thanked the King for his keenness to maintain outreach to Muslim and Christian religious figures on numerous occasions, including the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ.

He highlighted the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship over holy sites in Jerusalem, which dates back to the Pact of Umar, warning that escalating Israeli attacks in Jerusalem seek to legitimise the occupation, alter the religious, historical and legal status quo at Al Aqsa Mosque, and target waqf and educational institutions.

In his remarks, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, noted His Majesty’s efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, adding that during his recent visits to the Strip, priests, nuns, and families praised the King’s diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to alleviate their suffering.

He added that His Majesty’s Custodianship of holy sites and his continuous support helps to maintain not only the physical holy sites, but also the human resources necessary for Christians to remain steadfast in Jerusalem.

The Patriarch said that Jerusalem is the home of the monotheistic religions, and the King’s efforts serve to protect and preserve this unique tapestry of diverse religious traditions and sites.

Cardinal Pizzaballa also noted that the year 2030 will mark two thousand years since the baptism of Christ, and 2033 will mark two thousand years since the Resurrection, adding that followers of churches from around the world will come to Jordan to mark the occasions, especially at the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ (Bethany Beyond the Jordan).

For his part, Archbishop of the Anglican Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem Hussam Naoum affirmed that the Hashemite Custodianship bolsters the resilience of the Church in Jerusalem, and is considered a safety valve for Palestinians who remain steadfast in their land and holy sites.

He warned that violations by Israeli extremists against Muslim and Christian holy sites cannot be tolerated and must be condemned, stressing the need to preserve freedom of worship and access to places of worship, including Al Haram Al Sharif and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

He stressed the importance of combating Zionist ideology in the Church in the West, or what is known as Christian Zionism, emphasising that it has nothing to do with Christianity and poses a real threat to the Christian presence in the Levant in general, and Jerusalem in particular.

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 attended the meeting.

//Petra//AG