Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations Monsignor Guido Marini and Dr. Matteo Bruni, the official at the Vatican Press Office who is in charge of foreign media coverage of the Pope’s trips, have arrived in Amman.

The visiting delegation met at the Royal Court with the preparatory committees in charge of following up preparations for the upcoming visit of the Pope to the Holy Land, as well as with Church and governmental committees. Further meetings were also held at the Apostolic Nunciature, attended by the Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan Archbishop Giorgio Lingua, as well as at the Latin Vicariate with the participation of Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal.

Accompanied by Fr. Rifa't Bader, the official Church spokesperson for the papal visit to the Holy Land, Dr. Bruni was apprised of the preparations under way at the Royal Cultural Center where the Media Center relevant to the visit will be located. They also visited the Baptismal Site where Mr. Dia’ Al-Madani, director of the site, presented a briefing on the arrangements under way in preparation for the Pope’s visit to the site where he is scheduled to stand by the River Jordan and then meet with the sick, the poor and refugees.

Patriarch Twal, who is scheduled to welcome the Pope at the Amman Stadium on behalf of Catholic churches, expressed optimism that the papal visit to Jordan and the Holy Land will be successful as was the case in the past visits, noting that the Church in Bethlehem and Jerusalem exerts huge efforts to accord the Pope respect and appreciation when receiving him and prepare for the Holy Mass to be celebrated at the Manger Square in Bethlehem.
He continued that the ecumenical meeting between Pope Francis and Archbishop of Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew I is pivotal as it is reminiscent of the historic meeting which brought together Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras. He said that the meeting would be held through a joint Mass celebrated with the participation of the grand guests who head the major 13 churches in Jerusalem. He also called for prayer for the success of the papal visit, which is taking place under the slogan “Let them be one”.

Patriarch Twal also lauded the efforts of the Royal Court, government and Church committees that work unstintingly to ensure the success of the visit.

Fr. Bader reiterated his appreciation for the efforts undertaken by all parties to make the visit successful. He also referred to the harmony among the various parties to receive the guest of His Majesty the King on the fourth papal visit to the Kingdom. He also pointed out that when the papal plane touches down at Queen Alia Airport on May 24, the Kingdom will have thus been unique among the world countries in receiving four popes in half a century.