Catholic Church in Jordan Celebrates Feast of Epiphany with 26th Catholic Pilgrimage Day at Bethany Beyond the Jordan
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The Catholic Churches in Jordan marked today, Friday, the 26th Catholic Pilgrimage Day at the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ – Bethany Beyond the Jordan, celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany with a solemn Mass presided over by His Excellency Bishop Iyad Twal, Latin Patriarchal Vicar in Jordan.اضافة اعلان
The celebration drew thousands of pilgrims from across the Kingdom, alongside local and international ecclesiastical and official delegations.
Among the distinguished attendees were His Excellency Archbishop Giovanni Dal Toso, Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan; Archimandrite Paul Nazzha, Patriarchal Administrator for the Greek Catholic Church; and the heads of the Maronite, Chaldean, Syriac, and Armenian Catholic Churches in Jordan.
The event was also attended by a delegation from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, an official Vatican media delegation, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, senior government officials, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Kingdom, as well as priests, monks, nuns, and large numbers of the faithful.
Prior to the Mass, the Catholic Center for Studies and Media held a press conference at the Baptism Site. Its Director General, Fr. Rifat Bader, welcomed representatives of local and international media outlets, news agencies, and visiting delegations of bishops and journalists from the Philippines, Italy, and the Vatican.
Fr. Bader emphasized that the Catholic Pilgrimage Day has become an annual spiritual and national milestone, underscoring Jordan’s unique religious significance and enabling global media to convey Jordan’s message to believers worldwide.
He also recalled with pride the historic visit of His Majesty King Abdullah II to the Vatican last year, during which His Majesty met His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and extended an official invitation to visit the Baptism Site in Jordan.
Fr. Bader further highlighted that the participation of international church leaders and delegations strengthens spiritual and cultural ties among believers and contributes directly to the promotion of religious tourism in Jordan. He commended the coordinated efforts of all Jordanian institutions involved in organizing the event, including the Baptism Site Administration, the Baptism Site Commission chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Jordan Tourism Board, Jordan Radio and Television Corporation, church committees, and the Jordan Armed Forces, Public Security Directorate, and Civil Defense.
During the press conference, Bishop Iyad Twal extended an invitation on behalf of the Catholic Church in Jordan to pilgrims worldwide, stating: “Come, come to the Holy Land. Come to the Jordan River. Visit this holy place, visit this church, and be blessed by the waters of the Jordan River.”
Bishop Twal noted that this year’s pilgrimage marks one year since the inauguration of the Church of the Baptism of the Lord, offering believers a renewed opportunity for spiritual reflection and renewal. He also referred to recent developments in Gaza, expressing hope that the return of calm would pave the way toward a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace.
In closing, Bishop Twal offered prayers for Jordan and its people, invoking God’s blessings upon His Majesty King Abdullah II, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, and the entire Jordanian family, wishing the Kingdom a year filled with peace, goodness, and divine grace. He praised the efforts of all institutions supporting religious tourism in Jordan.
For his part, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Emad Hijazeen, expressed his appreciation to the Catholic Church for its continued organization of the Catholic Pilgrimage Day, noting that the event serves as a vital platform for conveying Jordan’s message to the world as a primary destination for religious tourism.
Dr. Hijazeen stressed that the Baptism Site is among the most significant Christian pilgrimage sites globally, as Christianity began on this land and on the banks of the Jordan River. He highlighted ongoing cooperation between the Ministry, the Baptism Site Administration, and the Baptism Site Commission to enhance the pilgrim's experience and further elevate the site’s international standing, in close collaboration with Catholic, Orthodox, and Evangelical churches.
Mr. Andrea Tornielli, Editorial Director of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, highlighted Jordan’s central place within the Holy Land that witnessed pivotal biblical events.
He called on pilgrims to visit Jordan’s holy sites in preparation for the Great Jubilee in 2033, as well as the 2030 Jubilee dedicated to the Baptism of Christ, describing these milestones as key opportunities to rediscover Jordan’s profound spiritual and historical legacy.
Following the press conference, Bishop Twal, accompanied by the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities and the heads of Catholic Churches in Jordan, drew holy water from the Jordan River to bless the faithful. A solemn procession then proceeded to the Church of the Baptism of the Lord, where Bishop Twal presided over the official Pilgrimage Mass.
During the Mass, Archimandrite Paul Nazzha delivered the homily, affirming that this sacred site—where heaven met earth and Christ began His public ministry—carries a universal message of love, peace, and hope. He prayed that these values may reach leaders and peoples worldwide, transforming violence into dialogue and war into justice and reconciliation.
Bishop Twal later blessed the congregation with water from the Jordan River and delivered a sermon emphasizing that baptism is not merely a ritual, but the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith marked by repentance, joy, and spiritual commitment.
Prayers were offered for the continued security and stability of Jordan, the strengthening of national unity, and the spread of peace and justice in Jerusalem, Gaza, the whole Palestine, and throughout the region and the world.
The celebration concluded with remarks by Fr. Emad Allamat, Secretary of the Latin Patriarchal Vicariate in Jordan, who expressed deep appreciation to all governmental, security, and church institutions that contributed to the success of Catholic Pilgrimage Day 2026, expressing hope for a strong return of pilgrims to Holy Jordan in the coming year.
The celebration drew thousands of pilgrims from across the Kingdom, alongside local and international ecclesiastical and official delegations.
Among the distinguished attendees were His Excellency Archbishop Giovanni Dal Toso, Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan; Archimandrite Paul Nazzha, Patriarchal Administrator for the Greek Catholic Church; and the heads of the Maronite, Chaldean, Syriac, and Armenian Catholic Churches in Jordan.
The event was also attended by a delegation from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, an official Vatican media delegation, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, senior government officials, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Kingdom, as well as priests, monks, nuns, and large numbers of the faithful.
Prior to the Mass, the Catholic Center for Studies and Media held a press conference at the Baptism Site. Its Director General, Fr. Rifat Bader, welcomed representatives of local and international media outlets, news agencies, and visiting delegations of bishops and journalists from the Philippines, Italy, and the Vatican.
Fr. Bader emphasized that the Catholic Pilgrimage Day has become an annual spiritual and national milestone, underscoring Jordan’s unique religious significance and enabling global media to convey Jordan’s message to believers worldwide.
He also recalled with pride the historic visit of His Majesty King Abdullah II to the Vatican last year, during which His Majesty met His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and extended an official invitation to visit the Baptism Site in Jordan.
Fr. Bader further highlighted that the participation of international church leaders and delegations strengthens spiritual and cultural ties among believers and contributes directly to the promotion of religious tourism in Jordan. He commended the coordinated efforts of all Jordanian institutions involved in organizing the event, including the Baptism Site Administration, the Baptism Site Commission chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Jordan Tourism Board, Jordan Radio and Television Corporation, church committees, and the Jordan Armed Forces, Public Security Directorate, and Civil Defense.
During the press conference, Bishop Iyad Twal extended an invitation on behalf of the Catholic Church in Jordan to pilgrims worldwide, stating: “Come, come to the Holy Land. Come to the Jordan River. Visit this holy place, visit this church, and be blessed by the waters of the Jordan River.”
Bishop Twal noted that this year’s pilgrimage marks one year since the inauguration of the Church of the Baptism of the Lord, offering believers a renewed opportunity for spiritual reflection and renewal. He also referred to recent developments in Gaza, expressing hope that the return of calm would pave the way toward a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace.
In closing, Bishop Twal offered prayers for Jordan and its people, invoking God’s blessings upon His Majesty King Abdullah II, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, and the entire Jordanian family, wishing the Kingdom a year filled with peace, goodness, and divine grace. He praised the efforts of all institutions supporting religious tourism in Jordan.
For his part, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Emad Hijazeen, expressed his appreciation to the Catholic Church for its continued organization of the Catholic Pilgrimage Day, noting that the event serves as a vital platform for conveying Jordan’s message to the world as a primary destination for religious tourism.
Dr. Hijazeen stressed that the Baptism Site is among the most significant Christian pilgrimage sites globally, as Christianity began on this land and on the banks of the Jordan River. He highlighted ongoing cooperation between the Ministry, the Baptism Site Administration, and the Baptism Site Commission to enhance the pilgrim's experience and further elevate the site’s international standing, in close collaboration with Catholic, Orthodox, and Evangelical churches.
Mr. Andrea Tornielli, Editorial Director of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, highlighted Jordan’s central place within the Holy Land that witnessed pivotal biblical events.
He called on pilgrims to visit Jordan’s holy sites in preparation for the Great Jubilee in 2033, as well as the 2030 Jubilee dedicated to the Baptism of Christ, describing these milestones as key opportunities to rediscover Jordan’s profound spiritual and historical legacy.
Following the press conference, Bishop Twal, accompanied by the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities and the heads of Catholic Churches in Jordan, drew holy water from the Jordan River to bless the faithful. A solemn procession then proceeded to the Church of the Baptism of the Lord, where Bishop Twal presided over the official Pilgrimage Mass.
During the Mass, Archimandrite Paul Nazzha delivered the homily, affirming that this sacred site—where heaven met earth and Christ began His public ministry—carries a universal message of love, peace, and hope. He prayed that these values may reach leaders and peoples worldwide, transforming violence into dialogue and war into justice and reconciliation.
Bishop Twal later blessed the congregation with water from the Jordan River and delivered a sermon emphasizing that baptism is not merely a ritual, but the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith marked by repentance, joy, and spiritual commitment.
Prayers were offered for the continued security and stability of Jordan, the strengthening of national unity, and the spread of peace and justice in Jerusalem, Gaza, the whole Palestine, and throughout the region and the world.
The celebration concluded with remarks by Fr. Emad Allamat, Secretary of the Latin Patriarchal Vicariate in Jordan, who expressed deep appreciation to all governmental, security, and church institutions that contributed to the success of Catholic Pilgrimage Day 2026, expressing hope for a strong return of pilgrims to Holy Jordan in the coming year.
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