His Majesty King Abdullah II on Wednesday December 24 conveyed Christmas good wishes to Christians in Jordan while patronizing, in the presence of Crown Prince Hussein Ibn Abdullah II, the celebrations held by Christian churches in Karak Governorate marking Christmas and the new year.

In a speech during the ceremony, Karak Governor Abdul Karim Al-Rawajfeh said addressing the King: "The distinguished situation we are experiencing is only a reflection of the cohesion of our internal front; and this is the result of your unstinting endeavour to strengthen our national unity and promote citizenship based on responsibility and community partnership." He stressed that "the sons of Karak pay allegiance to the Hashemites and are loyal to Jordan."

Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem Theophilos III made an address on behalf of Father Issa Muslih. He said: "The world is changing causing new socio-economic realities. Most of these changes did not take final shape whose specific direction will only be defined by time. Some of these directions augur well while the others are worrying; some are promising and others reveal bleak outcomes. The whole situation requires enlightenment which the noble Hashemites, the builders of this great country, maintained over the past years. We, in the Holy Land, have a humanitarian duty--in our capacity as inheritors of an old message and legacy of harmony between Christians and Muslims--to extend a helpful hand, and do our part of positively impacting the future that is evolving before our eyes through the achievement of peace, justice and the preservation of diversity within the same society. "

Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Maroun Lahham said in an address: "We the Christians of this country, our ultimate loyalty is for Jordan. We encourage cooperation with everyone, especially in these difficult circumstances that prevail in the region, in order to maintain national unity and preserve our Islamic-Christian coexistence so that Jordan will remain due to its leadership a world model."

In an interview with the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Iraqi lady Nagham Habib, who was forced to flee her home in Iraq with her three children and arrive in Jordan with a group of displaced Christians, said: "Jordan and His Majesty the King has given us hope, and his decision to allow the arrival of displaced Iraqis in the Kingdom gave them an expanse of hope in these difficult circumstances."

Habib, on behalf of all Iraqis, extended gratitude to His Majesty the King saying: "We ask God to protect His Majesty the King, our brother and friend, and to keep Jordan a country of peace and security in the Middle East." She also referred to the generosity and care extended by Jordanian families and institutions to the displaced Iraqi Christian families in the Kingdom, especially Caritas Jordan, including housing, food and safe haven."