Bishop Twal: Jordan is a message of coexistence
Summary
In an interview with Vatican Media, Bishop Iyad Twal, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan, describes Jordan as a relatively stable country amid regional conflict and as a place where Christians, Muslims, refugees, and other communities coexist. He says Jordan has absorbed major numbers of Syrian, Iraqi, Palestinian, Egyptian, and Lebanese refugees, while maintaining schools, universities, and daily life despite rising prices and the disruption of tourism caused by the reported war between the United States and Iran. Twal emphasizes Jordan’s connection to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, describing aid efforts that include bringing twelve students from Gaza to study in Jordan and supporting Jordanian military field hospitals in Gaza. He argues that lasting regional stability requires justice and peace for Palestinians. Twal also presents religion as a potential source of reconciliation rather than violence and stresses the importance of the Arab Christian presence in the Middle East. The article highlights Jordan’s preparations for the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus’ baptism in 2030 at Al-Maghtas, or Bethany beyond the Jordan, including planned infrastructure investment, pilgrimage services, and religious programs. It also mentions anticipated 2033 commemorations connected to Jesus’ Passion, death, and Resurrection.
Watchmen Signals
Biblical Context
The article has a direct biblical connection because it discusses the planned 2030 commemoration of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist at Al-Maghtas, identified in the article with Bethany beyond the Jordan. The New Testament directly records Jesus coming to John for baptism and describes the event as a significant episode at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. The article’s references to renewing baptismal promises are also consistent with the Christian understanding of baptism, although the article does not itself provide a doctrinal explanation. The location identified in the article should not be treated as independently established by the cited biblical passages; the biblical text refers to the setting, while archaeological and historical identification involve additional evidence. The article’s emphasis on peace, justice, hospitality, and coexistence also has broad thematic parallels with biblical teaching, but those themes do not establish that current political events fulfill prophecy.
Biblical Sources
Scripture references supporting the biblical context above.
This verse places John’s baptizing activity at Bethany beyond the Jordan in the wording used by many translations, relating to the article’s identification of Al-Maghtas with that biblical setting.
This parallel Gospel account directly describes Jesus being baptized by John in the Jordan, providing an additional biblical basis for the event discussed in the article.
This passage directly records Jesus’ baptism by John in the Jordan and the accompanying testimony concerning Jesus’ identity, supporting the article’s discussion of commemorating Jesus’ baptism.
Jesus’ blessing of peacemakers provides a broad thematic connection to Bishop Twal’s emphasis on reconciliation and peaceful coexistence; it does not specifically interpret the political events described.
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