jordan pulse -

ASSISI – In a bid to promote Jordan’s religious heritage and boost pilgrimage tourism, the exhibition “Jordan: Dawn of Christianity” opened Friday, 4 July 2025, in Assisi, Italy. The event was attended by Jordan’s Tourism Minister Lina Annab, Ambassador to Italy Qais Abu Dayyeh, Father Francesco Belloni of the Franciscan Order, Assisi Deputy Mayor Veronica Cavallucci, and numerous Italian officials and religious and cultural figures.

Assisi — a global symbol of peace and dialogue that draws over 5 million visitors annually — adds weight to the exhibition’s message of Jordan as a spiritual and cultural destination.

In her remarks, Annab highlighted Assisi’s symbolic significance, noting that King Abdullah II received the Lamp of Peace award there in 2019 for his efforts in promoting human rights, interfaith dialogue, and regional peace. She described the exhibition as a “message that transcends borders,” portraying Jordan as a land of harmony and shared living, and inviting global pilgrims to explore the Kingdom’s sacred Christian sites.

Ambassador Abu Dayyeh thanked Assisi’s authorities for hosting the event, noting it reflects the deep-rooted ties between Jordan and Italy and underscores Jordan’s vital role in preserving holy sites — especially under the Hashemite Custodianship in Jerusalem.

Deputy Mayor Cavallucci praised the exhibition for fostering interfaith and intercultural dialogue.

The exhibition features around 90 rare artifacts from 34 archaeological sites in Jordan — including Bethany beyond the Jordan (the Baptism Site), Mount Nebo, Machaerus Fortress, Tell Mar Elias, and Our Lady of the Mountain Church in Anjara — telling the story of Christianity’s early roots in the region.

Organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and curated by Eyad Khzuz, the exhibition runs through 2 August at Monte Frumentario Palace in Assisi. It follows a successful run at the Vatican earlier this year and will move to Athens in September.