Jordan Times
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Greek Catholic patriarch
commends religious co-existence in Jordan
AMMAN (Petra) — The visiting head of the Greek Catholic Church in the Orient
Patriarch Gregorious III on Monday commended His Majesty King Abdullah's efforts
in making Jordan a model for peaceful co-existence among religious faiths.
Speaking during a meeting with Lower House Deputy Speaker Mamdouh Abbadi, the
patriarch said Jordan has been transformed into an oasis of security and
stability and a model for co-existence thanks to the King's efforts.
Patriarch Gregorious called for a unified Muslim-Christian stand in the Arab
world and urged the region's governments to include the Arab youth in the
development process.
Greek Catholic Church Spokesperson Father Nabil Haddad, who attended the
meeting, said the Antioch-based patriarch is following in the footsteps of the
late Pope John Paul II in performing a pilgrimage to the Kingdom's Christian
sites and meeting with the Greek Catholic community and Jordanian officials.
The patriarch delivered a lecture at the Royal Cultural Centre in which he paid
tribute to the Hashemite Royal family for the atmosphere of tolerance and
co-existence between Christian and Muslim communities in the Kingdom.
Minister of Culture and Government Spokesperson Asma Khader and King Abdullah's
adviser on Islamic Affairs, Chief Islamic Justice Sheikh Izzeddine Tamimi,
attended the lecture.
Patriarch Gregorious, who arrived in Amman on Friday in his first visit to the
Kingdom since his election in 2000, has already met local Christian community
members in Madaba and Maain.