|
![Tens of thousands of worshippers gathered to listen to the pope [AFP]](http://mwcnews.net/images/stories/Jordan/1/papal.jpg "Tens of thousands of worshippers gathered to listen to the pope [AFP]") | | Tens of thousands of worshippers gathered to listen to the pope [AFP] |
Pope Benedict XVI has held mass in the Jordanian capital, urging the country's Catholic minority to preserve their ancient faith and traditions and work with other religions to enrich their daily lives.
More than 25,000 people listened to his message in a football stadium in Amman on Sunday morning. "May you never forget the great dignity which derives from your Christian heritage, or fail to sense the loving solidarity of all your brothers and sisters in the church throughout the world," he said. "The Catholic community here is deeply touched by the difficulties and uncertainties which affect all the people of the Middle East." The pontiff circled the field in his bullet-proof popemobile, greeting worshippers from Jordan and neighbouring countries while they sang "yes to love, yes to peace". Real challenges Benedict is to visit Bethany on the east bank of the River Jordan where Christians believe Jesus was baptised, before travelling on to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories on Monday. He will visit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth. The pope is on a week-long pilgrimage to the Middle East. His main theme has been Christian-Muslim relations and, on Saturday he addressed government officials and religious leaders in Amman's al-Hussein mosque. He said Muslims and Christians must strive to be seen as faithful worshippers of God "because of the burden of our common history" that has often been marked by misunderstanding. Christian communities have dwindled in recent decades in the Middle East, as wars, political instability and poverty have prompted many to leave.
Recommend this article...
Tags: Pope Benedict XVI Jordan Amman
|
Arab World 
