Vatican City, 24 May 2014 (VIS) –
After celebrating Holy Mass in the International Stadium in Amman,
Pope Francis made the fifty kilometre journey to Bethany beyond the
Jordan, which was the centre of the activity of St. John the Baptist
and the scene of Jesus' life. Bethany is still buried and its precise
location remains unknown, although it is perhaps found 200 metres to
the west of the Hill of the Prophet Elijah, where archaeological
excavations have not yet been carried out. The zone is called “Wadi
Al-Kharrar” (“melodious valley”), referring to the murmur of
the waters of the Jordan, and is located at 350 metres above the
level of the Mediterranean, just a few kilometres from the point at
which the river widens and flows into the Dead Sea, the “sea of
salt” of the Old Testament and the “Sea of Lot” of Arab
manuscripts.
Upon arrival the Pope was welcomed by
King Abdullah II, who awaited him in the apse of the Latin Church of
Bethany before the Jordan, and from there he went on to visit the
place of the Baptism, at the banks of the Jordan, where he prayed in
silence for some minutes and blessed the water. He then entered the
temple where a private sacristy had been prepared. The church is
still in construction and its first stone was blessed by Pope
Benedict VI during his visit to the site of the Baptism on 10 May
2009.
The Holy Father was awaited in the
Church by 600 people, including refugees and young disabled people,
and the Pope mentioned his keenness to meet those who have had to
leave their homes and country “As a result of violence and
conflict. Here in Jordan you have found welcome and refuge. I have
wanted also to meet with you, dear young people who bear the burden
of physical disabilities”.
“The place where we are meeting
commemorates Jesus’ baptism”, he continued. “Coming here to the
Jordan to be baptised by John, Jesus showed his humility and his
participation in our human condition. He stooped down to us and by
his love he restored our dignity and brought us salvation. Jesus’
humility never fails to move us, the fact that he bends down to
wounded humanity in order to heal us. For our part, we are profoundly
affected by the tragedies and suffering of our times, particularly
those caused by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. I think
particularly of beloved Syria, rent by nearly three years of civil
strife which has led to countless deaths and forced millions to flee
and seek exile in other countries”.
“All of us want peace!” he
exclaimed. “But as we observe this tragic conflict, seeing these
wounds, seeing so many people who have left their homeland, forced to
do so, I ask myself: who is selling arms to these people to make war?
Behold the root of evil! Hatred and financial greed in the
manufacturing and sale of arms. This should make us think about who
is responsible for this situation, for providing arms to those in
conflict and thereby sustaining such conflict. Let us think about
this and with sincere hearts let us call upon these poor criminals to
change their ways”.
Francis thanked the Jordanian
authorities and people for “the generous welcome they have extended
to the immense number of refugees from Syria and Iraq. I also thank
all those who offer them assistance and solidarity. I think too of
the charitable work undertaken by Church institutions such as Caritas
Jordan and others, who assist the needy regardless of their religious
beliefs, ethnic origin or politics; in this way they reveal the
radiant face of Jesus, full of kindness and love. May the Almighty
and Merciful God bless all of you and every effort you make to
alleviate the sufferings caused by war”.
“I urge the international community
not to leave Jordan, so welcoming and courageous, alone in the task
of meeting the humanitarian emergency caused by the arrival of so
great a number of refugees, but to continue and even increase its
support and assistance. And I renew my heartfelt appeal for peace in
Syria. May the violence cease and may humanitarian law be respected,
thus ensuring much needed assistance to those who are suffering. May
all parties abandon the attempt to resolve issues by the use of arms
and return to negotiations. A solution will only be found through
dialogue and restraint, through compassion for those who suffer,
through the search for a political solution and through a sense of
fraternal responsibility”.
“Dear young people, I ask you to join
me in praying for peace. You can do this by offering your daily
efforts and struggles to God; in this way your prayer will become
particularly precious and effective. I also encourage you to assist,
through your generosity and sensitivity, in building a society which
is respectful of the vulnerable, the sick, children and the elderly.
Despite your difficulties in life, you are a sign of hope. You have a
place in God’s heart and in my prayers. I am grateful that so many
of you are here, and for your warmth and enthusiasm”.
Finally, he added, “As our meeting
concludes, I pray once more that reason and restraint will prevail
and that, with the help of the international community, Syria will
rediscover the path of peace. May God change the hearts of those who
seek war. May God change the hearts of those who manufacture and sell
arms, and may he strengthen the hearts and minds of peacemakers and
grant them every blessing”.
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