Catholics from across Jordan gathered at the Jordan River this January to mark the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord with prayer, pilgrimage, and a renewed plea for peace in the Holy Land.
The annual celebration took place at Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al-Maghtas), the site traditionally recognized as where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. The Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Baptism of the Lord, located on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, near the place where Christ’s public ministry began.
According to Vatican News, more than 5,000 faithful participated in this year’s pilgrimage, which drew Catholics from across the country as well as diplomats representing 10 nations. Members of several Eastern Catholic Churches were also present, including the Melkite Greek, Maronite, Chaldean, Syriac, and Armenian Catholic communities.
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The Mass was presided over by Bishop Iyad Twal, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan, with Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan, concelebrating. During the liturgy, the faithful were sprinkled with holy water drawn directly from the Jordan River before the celebration, a moment that carried deep spiritual significance for pilgrims who had traveled long distances to attend.
The church itself was inaugurated one year earlier by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, marking an important milestone in the development of the baptism site as a place of prayer and pilgrimage.
Before the Mass, Bishop Twal addressed the faithful and the press, describing the baptism site as a “place which is abounding with holiness and cordiality,” according to Vatican News. He also conveyed greetings from Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who was unable to attend due to his presence in Rome for the Consistory.
Bishop Twal shared reflections from Cardinal Pizzaballa’s recent visit to Gaza, saying the patriarch “felt a genuine determination for the start of a new life and the hope that this year will witness a durable, true, just, and comprehensive peace.” He added, “This is what we offer in prayer from this holy place. For Jerusalem, for entire Palestine, for our dear people in Gaza, and in all of our holy land,” according to Vatican News.
The pilgrimage also carried a message of hope for the future of Christian presence and pilgrimage in the region. Bishop Twal expressed his desire that pilgrims from around the world will once again return to the Holy Land in large numbers, extending what Vatican News described as a “sincere invitation” to the faithful to visit the Jordan River and receive a blessing from its waters.
The event was organized in collaboration with the Baptism Site Administration, Jordan’s Ministry of Tourism, and the Jordan Tourism Board, underscoring the shared commitment to preserving the baptism site as a place of faith, history, and prayer.
As Christians marked the moment when Christ entered the waters of the Jordan, the prayers offered there echoed far beyond the riverbanks, rising as a plea for peace, renewal, and healing throughout the Holy Land.
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