Jordan Times
Monday, April 4, 2005
King expresses deep sorrow over Pope's passing
AMMAN (JT) — Jordan on Sunday remembered the late Pope John Paul II in three lights: His encouragement of Muslim-Christian dialogue, support for the Palestinian cause and opposition to the war on Iraq.
His Majesty King Abdullah expressed deep grief
and sorrow over the passing of John Paul II, who contributed to enhancing
tolerance, dialogue and human rights as well as strengthening ties between
monotheistic religions around the world.
“His Holiness devoted his life to calling for solidarity between the rich and
poor countries, peace, freedom, love and alleviation of the suffering in the
world,” a Royal Court statement quoted King Abdullah as saying.
“We lost an influential figure, who had tangible contributions as well as
positive and firm stands on legitimate Arab issues, especially the Palestinian
cause, and human principles and values, called for by Islam,” the King said.
Referring to the late Pope's 2000 visit to Jordan during his pilgrimage to the
Holy Land, the Monarch said ties between the Kingdom and the pontiff have always
been “unique and distinguished.”
The King also sent a cable of condolences to the Vatican on Jordan's behalf.
And Prime Minister Faisal Fayez on Sunday announced that the national flags on
government buildings will fly at half-mast for three days as of today, the
Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
All of Jordan remembers the pontiff's visit to Jordan.
King's Adviser Akel Biltaji, who accompanied the Pope on that visit five years
ago to several of Jordan's holy sites, recalls when he first met John Paul II.
“In 1998, I met the Pope in the company of His Majesty the late King Hussein
during our visit to the Vatican. We told him about the discovery of the Baptism
Site in Jordan and presented him with a gift,” Biltaji said.
“In 1999 during the visit to the Vatican in the company of His Majesty King
Abdullah, we presented the Pope with documents about the updated renovation and
construction works at the Baptism Site. Then in 2000, I accompanied the Pope
during his pilgrimage to Jordan.”
Biltaji described the Pope as a “humble and prestigious person supporting
efforts for the establishment of peace in the Middle East... and he truly loved
Jordan.”
John Paul II started his historic pilgrimage to the Holy Land with an
impassioned appeal for the continuation of the peace process.
“In this area of the world there are grave and urgent issues of justice, of the
rights of peoples and nations, which have to be resolved for the good of all and
as a condition for lasting peace,” the pontiff said in an address upon his
arrival in Amman on March 20, 2000.
“Without peace, there can be no authentic development for this region. That is
why Jordan's proven commitment to securing the conditions necessary for peace is
so important and praiseworthy,” the Pope said.
The late Pope also believed that the pressures on global society make it
imperative that the world's religions work together for peace. “All religions
must feel called to fresh efforts to cooperate in order to promote human life
and its dignity,” the pontiff said in late 2000.
For HRH Prince Hassan, the moderator of the World Conference of Religions for
Peace, the world's largest multireligious organisation, “the death of Pope John
Paul II was an occasion for sorrow in religious communities around the world.”
Prince Hassan noted that “John Paul II exercised historic leadership in
advancing goodwill and cooperation among the world's diverse religions.”
The Prince singled out with appreciation the Pope's powerful and steadfast
commitment to building respectful relations among religions, citing the
pontiff's visit to a mosque in Syria and his kissing of the Holy Koran as
gestures of goodwill deeply appreciated by Muslims.
Prince Hassan, who accompanied the Pope to the holy site of Mount Nebo said:
“The Pope maintained an abiding and learned respect for religious differences,
and demonstrated in action his deep commitment to the bonds of unity shared by
all peoples.”
Father Nabil Haddad of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jordan said the Pope's visit
to Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territories helped further cement
Christian-Muslim ties.
“Jordanian Muslims and Christians will remember the Pope's fervent support of
the Kingdom's efforts for the Palestinian cause and his strong opposition to the
war on Iraq,” Father Nabil said.
For his part, Father Hanna Kildani, spokesperson for the Roman Catholic bishop,
said, “His Holiness firmly stood against the war on Iraq stressing that
`preemptive war does not exist in Christian teachings'.”
Catholic churches in Jordan yesterday held requiem mass for the Pope's soul.
Government Spokesperson Asma Khader, meanwhile, described the Pope as a symbol
of love and peace and coexistence among different cultures and civilisations.
“Pope John Paul II left behind a spiritual legacy that bore fruit and manifested
in solidarity, cooperation and dialogue for resolving issues founded on the
basis of justice and love,” Khader, also minister of culture, told Petra.
Also on Sunday, acting House Speaker Mamdouh Abbadi sent a cable of condolences
to the Vatican embassy in Amman, describing the passing of the late Pope as a
great loss of a world personality, who diligently worked for enhancing world
peace.
As president of the Royal Academy for Islamic Civilisation Research (Al al Bayt
Foundation), Nassereddin Assad twice had an audience with the Holy Father at the
Vatican.
“The Pope welcomed me as the foundation president and my companions, expressing
deep appreciation of our efforts in promoting Muslim-Christian dialogue which he
described as a means for promoting peace. Pope John Paul II delivered lectures
on both occasions that gave us encouragement to pursue our efforts,” Assad told
The Jordan Times.