Jordan: Catholic churches celebrate pilgrimage to baptism site amid pandemic and health restrictions

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The ceremony of the 22nd Christian national pilgrimage to the baptism site north of the Dead Sea in Jordan kicked off on Friday, amid tightened health measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The ceremony was led by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The ceremonial mass was held inside the Church of Baptism of Christ where the Patriarch sprayed the audience with the holy water of the Jordan river as the scout teams played music outside the church.

The number of pilgrims was limited to 1,000 worshippers this year in order to allow for social distancing inside the church, which can usually accommodate up to 2000 worshippers. Mass participants were seen praying while wearing face masks.

“Due to the COVID pandemic for the second year in a row, the number of participants was reduced. Last year there have been several hundred, but this year we have selected 1,000 worshippers from our various parishes and dear churches, in addition to scouts and priests from various catholic churches,” Bishop Rifaat Badr explained.

During a press conference, Patriarch Pierbattista thanked the efforts exerted by the Royal Baptism site Commission, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi Bin Mohammed, and expressed his hopes that the construction works of the Church of Baptism of Christ be completed this year.

The annual pilgrimage to the baptism site for the Catholic Churches is held on the second Friday of January of each year.

SOUNDBITES:

SOT, Suha Hadadien, pilgrim (Arabic): “We are looking for peace and security amid the circumstance we are being through after the spread of COVID, which reduced the number of worshippers. Usually, on this day, the place becomes very crowded with believers who like to pray and commemorate the baptism of Christ. However, during the pandemic, fewer worshippers are coming. We feel pain and emptiness not to have so many people around.”

SOT, Bahjat Badr, pilgrim (Arabic): “Today is a special day, the day when Jesus Christ was baptized in this area which enjoys historic and geographic significance for Jordan because this place is archaeological and a place for God’s prophets. However, we are part of this world and it is getting harder with the spread of COVID -19. By all means, this year is much better than the last one as the number of participants is increasing.”

SOT, Rifaat Badr, Bishop (Arabic): “Due to COVID pandemic for the second year in a row, the number of participants was reduced. Last year there have been several hundred, but this year we have selected 1000 worshippers from our various parishes and dear churches, in addition to scouts and priests from various catholic churches, heads of churches and the Patriarch of Jerusalem, so that this ceremony acts as a prayer for sick to recover and the old who cannot pray with us now but we pray and unite with them through media and live to broadcast this mass for them to have the opportunity to pray for the healing of bodies and souls.”

SOT, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem: “We pay tribute to the Royal Baptism site Commission, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi Bin Mohammed, the Baptism Site Directorate, the Ministry of Tourism and the Jordan Tourist Board. We also thank the churches that promote this unique site and invite pilgrims to visit it. The Latin Patriarchate will continue to complete the construction of the Church of the Baptism of Christ so it will, God’s willing, be the destination for pilgrims and a sign of unity among the Christians of Jordan and their brothers in the entire world.”

Video ID: 20220114-038

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