jordan pulse -

Amman, 17 December 2025: King Abdullah II receives Christian and Islamic religious leaders from Jerusalem and Jordan at Al Husseiniya Palace on Wednesday.

King congratulates Christians in Jordan, Palestine and world on Christmas, during meeting attended by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, Chief Adviser to King for Religious and Cultural Affairs and personal envoy.

Patriarch Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine and Jordan, says Hashemite Custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Holy Land remains active force for good and key pillar for balance at time of deep concern and growing challenges.

He says existential threat facing Christian presence is real and escalating, pointing to ongoing violations and restrictions on free access to holy sites, warning against threat of ‘Christian Zionism’ that misuses sacred texts for political purposes.

Patriarch adds Christians in Holy Land closely monitor erosion of historic status quo arrangements and alarming violations by extremist groups against Al Aqsa Mosque, stressing outright rejection of these attacks, noting any threat to Islamic holy sites is threat to churches and Christian holy sites.

Jerusalem Awqaf Council Chairman and Director General of Jerusalem Awqaf and Al Aqsa Mosque Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Azam Al Khatib thanks King for continued engagement with Islamic and Christian religious figures on many occasions, including anniversary of birth of Jesus Christ, peace be upon him.

Al Khatib highlights importance of Hashemite Custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, rooted in Umar Covenant, in protecting holy sites and Islamic and Christian identity of Holy City and strengthening resilience of Jerusalemites.

He points to Israeli violations in Jerusalem, saying Holy City today witnesses dangerous escalation in implementation of plans that entrench occupation, seek to alter existing religious, historical and legal status of Al Aqsa Mosque, and target waqf and educational institutions.
Rum