Bishop Twal: Jordan is a message of coexistence

By Andrea Tornielli

An oasis of peace amidst the winds of war in the Middle East. A predominantly Muslim country where Christians live are treated with respect, feeling like full citizens. A hospitable land that is home to 3.5 million refugees out of a population of 11 million, and which is preparing to mark the 2,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Jesus in 2030.

This is how Bishop Iyad Twal, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan, describes the situation in his country.

The bishop is in Rome to take part in the meeting of the Conference of Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions (CELRA).

In an interview with Vatican Media, he speaks first and foremost about the consequences of the war between the US and Iran. “Geographically, Jordan is right in the middle… Together with the government and the King, we have tried to maintain normality in daily life. We have not closed schools or universities… we have carried on with our lives. There has been a rise in prices, but this does not affect us alone. We have lost the opportunity for normal tourism, because the entire tourism sector – including religious tourism and pilgrimages – has come to a standstill. Our central position also helps us to maintain a balanced relationship with everyone.”

Close to the Palestinian people

The Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan speaks of the situation in Palestine: the bombs that continue to fall on Gaza and the ongoing violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against the population of the West Bank. Christians see themselves as part of this community.

“We are part of the Diocese of the Holy Land, of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. They are our brothers and sisters, and we are experiencing together the harsh reality of what is happening. We pray for them constantly and try to help them, even in our daily lives. In our schools, we have always sought to welcome and support our Palestinian brothers and sisters who have come to Jordan – and there are many of them. Jordan has now almost become an oasis of peace: we have Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and we have many Egyptians and Lebanese.”

The bishop goes on to talk about an initiative carried out “thanks to the help of so many people: bringing twelve students, young people from Gaza, who had finished secondary school at our school in Gaza, to our parish. We were able to get them out of the Strip and they are now in Jordan, at our university in Madaba.”

Bishop Twal describes how they “have also made a donation to the Jordanian army, which has three field hospitals in Gaza, and we hope that through this healthcare mission we will also be able to bring some children to Jordan.”

“Like all other countries in the Middle East,” he continues, “we know full well that if there is no justice and peace for the Palestinian people, we will always live in crisis. So we are working and praying for peace and justice for all. These are difficult times; we are on the eve of elections on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides. We hope that with the new leadership there will be a breath of fresh air and renewed hope.”

Religion is not the problem

“Religion in the Holy Land,” Bishop Twal says, “is sometimes seen as a cause of violence, in the sense that it is not difficult to find fanatics on all sides. However, I truly believe that religion should be the solution, not the problem—believing in God is a way of drawing closer to others.” 

“The Holy Land is not holy because of its stones; it is holy because people live out holiness. This is what we must convey to all our Christian brothers and sisters, to our Muslim and Jewish brothers and sisters—believing in God means being close to everyone,” the Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan explains.

Advertisement

“The Christian presence is very important in our region: it is our mission, our vocation. The Holy Father has told us that it is not our numbers that matter, but our fidelity to God and our witness in the midst of this reality rich in diversity. Being Arab Christians in the Middle East is part of our identity, which remains even if one emigrates to Europe or the United States.”

The 2,000th Anniversary of the Baptism of Jesus

The whole country is preparing to celebrate, in 2030, the 2,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Jesus by St John the Baptist at a site that has been identified by archaeologists: Al-Maghtas, also known as Bethany beyond the Jordan.

“This anniversary,” explains Bishop Twal, “is a historic event; all of us in Jordan are involved in the preparations. The King has set up a national committee chaired by the Prime Minister, and they are investing nearly 120 million dollars to build a village next to the site of Jesus’ baptism, where the churches are located. For us as a Church, it is important to emphasise the spiritual experience—all Christians throughout the world are called to renew their baptismal promises.”

The bishop shares how, just a few days ago, they “announced the opening of a pilgrims’ office for all our brothers and sisters who come to visit us in Jordan, to serve as a point of reference and assistance in organising a travel itinerary and visiting the most significant sites. It also helps put them in touch with our parishes, to foster spiritual exchange between pilgrims and the local Church.”

“So for us, this is a historic grace,” Bishop Twal stresses. “There is the history of salvation and there is the geography of salvation, as our Patriarch, Cardinal Pizzaballa, always calls it. We live out these two dimensions: history and geography. With great joy, with great faith… We are also considering offering a biblical itinerary every year, from now until 2030, centred on the great prophets of Jordan: Moses, Elijah and John the Baptist.”

The celebrations will not end in 2030. The Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan points out that “after 2030, we will look towards 2033, the great Jubilee of Salvation marking the two thousandth anniversary of the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus.”

Jordan: A message

The bishop also highlights how Jordan itself today represents a message of peaceful coexistence amongst believers of different faiths.

“It’s true, we’re not just putting on a show; it’s the daily life we lead – the tranquillity, the peace, the openness, the moderation. Every now and then we have problems here too, but that’s normal; there are problems everywhere, even in Europe,” Bishop Twal explains.

“But Jordan is an example, and it shouldn’t be unusual; the whole of the Middle East should be like this. The wealth we possess – our religions, cultures and diversity in the Middle East – is a treasure for all humanity. The whole world must help us to see differences as a source of wealth, of humanity, as a common good.”

Furthermore, the Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan says “Jordan truly sends a message, and we hope to carry on like this, to move forward. The pectoral cross I wear is a replica of the cross found in Wadi Feynan, a valley in southern Jordan where there was a Christian community as early as the second century; so now, as Bishop of Amman, I am proud to say that I am the shepherd of a Church dating back to the second century. Such a rich history is a fundamental part of our identity in the Middle East.”