The meeting underscored Jordan’s steadfast commitment to preserving Christian and Muslim holy sites and advancing peace, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue
Newsroom (16/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) His Majesty King Abdullah, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Rania, met with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on Tuesday, marking their first encounter since the pontiff’s inauguration in May 2025. The meeting underscored Jordan’s steadfast commitment to preserving Christian and Muslim holy sites and advancing peace, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue, according to a Royal Court statement.
During the audience, His Majesty extended an invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ (Bethany Beyond the Jordan, or Al-Maghtas), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a cornerstone of Jordan’s religious heritage. The King highlighted Jordan’s ongoing efforts to safeguard Christian sacred sites, emphasizing the Hashemite Kingdom’s historical and religious role as custodian of both Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. In 2003, King Abdullah II of Jordan donated 30 dunams of land for the construction of a Catholic church at Al-Maghtas, providing a welcoming space for pilgrims. And on May 10, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI, joined by King Abdullah II and the Hashemite family, laid the foundation stone for the Catholic Church and Monastery of Al-Maghtas, solidifying the royal family’s ongoing support of the site.
The discussions also addressed the escalating tensions in the region, with King Abdullah warning of the dangers posed by Israeli attacks on Jerusalem’s sacred sites. He stressed the urgent need to implement agreements to end the war in Gaza, ensuring the delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid to alleviate Palestinian suffering. The King reiterated that a two-state solution, guaranteeing an independent Palestinian state, remains the only path to lasting peace and prosperity in the Middle East.
The meeting, attended by HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, His Majesty’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs, also explored avenues for deepening Jordan-Vatican cooperation in promoting global security and peace. Pope Leo XIV acknowledged Jordan’s pivotal role in protecting sacred sites and fostering interfaith dialogue, echoing the Holy See’s long-standing recognition of the Hashemite monarchy’s efforts in a region marked by instability.
The audience builds on a history of strong ties between Jordan and the Vatican. While King Abdullah and Queen Rania were represented by Prince Ghazi at Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass, they attended the solemn farewell of Pope Francis in April 2025. Notably, Queen Rania met with the late Pope Francis in February 2025 at the International Summit on Children’s Rights, where he emphasized the sanctity of children’s lives—a sentiment that resonates with Jordan’s sustained humanitarian support for Gaza amid ongoing conflict.
The invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the Baptism Site reflects Jordan’s enduring commitment to preserving its Christian heritage and fostering global interfaith understanding, reinforcing the Kingdom’s role as a beacon of coexistence in a turbulent region.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Jordan Times, Hola and Vatican News
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