The Jordan Tourism Board will welcome His Holiness Pope Francis I on a pilgrimage to the site of Jesus' baptism at Bethany Beyond the Jordan. This visit, the fourth papal visit of its kind, will emphasise the biblical importance of sites in Jordan as well as illustrate the strength of coexistence between Jordanians of different faiths.

Pope Francis will meet with His Majesty King Abdullah II and Jordanian officials on the 24May before heading to Amman International Stadium to give a mass sermon to the public. Afterwards, His Holiness will head to the baptism site before meeting with sick and disabled people and Iraqi and Syrian refugees.

Dr. Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, managing director of the Jordan Tourism Board, said: “His Holiness' visit to the Kingdom not only emphasises Jordan's religious significance for Christian pilgrims, but also reiterates our message that we're sharing with visitors regarding the different cultures and faiths found in Jordan. Existence of varied faiths and cultures is documented at our various religious sites; spanning millennia, civilisations and religions.”

Director General of the Baptism Site Commission Mr. Dia Madani said “His Holiness Pope Francis I comes to the holy site of Jesus' Baptism in order to be blessed by the waters of the Jordan River and bless his disabled and refugee guests in the same waters where Jesus Christ was baptised.”

On his pilgrimage in the year 2000, the late Pope John Paul II, the Catholic Church designated five sites around the country as pilgrimage sites for the year 2000.

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For media information and images of Jordan, please contact: Tryphena Greenwood or Steele Paulich at The Brighter Group - tel: 0207 7326 9880 or tryphena.greenwood@brightergroup.com / steele.paulich@brightergroup.com

About Jordan

Situated in the heart of the Arabian Desert, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is considered to be the safest in all of the Middle East. The country is roughly the same size as Portugal, and has a population of around six million people.

From the hustle and bustle of the capital Amman to southern desert, Jordan is awash with biblical, historical and cultural significance. Jordan's iconic landmarks include the panoramic views from Mount Nebo, the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea, and Wadi Rum – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.