Amman, July 26 (Petra) - Patriarch Youssef Absi, the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, lauded Jordan on Sunday as a global model of peace, love, and coexistence, pointing to His Majesty King Abdullah II’s vital role in protecting Middle Eastern Christians and safeguarding Holy Sites.

Absi, speaking during a mass at the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy in Amman, stated that his visit brings a message of fellowship from Syria and Lebanon to Jordan.

He noted the Kingdom’s "extraordinary spiritual and historical significance" as the birthplace of Christianity's early spread, noting that the upcoming 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s baptism further cements its global religious importance.

Absi commended the King's commitment to the Baptism Site (Bethany Beyond the Jordan) and iterated the crucial role of the Hashemite Custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

He called King Abdullah II a key protector of Middle Eastern Christians, describing Jordan as a "rare haven of stability and interfaith harmony." Absi arrived in Jordan Sunday morning for a week-long pastoral visit. His itinerary includes meetings with religious and civic leaders, visits to historic sites, and the inauguration of the church's new administrative and pastoral complex in Amman.

//Petra// HA