The Arabic language-dubbed version of "The Chosen" series launched from Jordan

The launching ceremony of the Arabic-dubbed version of the series “The Chosen”  has been held in Amman under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Rym Ali, and in the presence of Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Dr. Imad Hijazin who deputized for her. The event was also attended by Lebanese Minister of Information Paul Morcos, in addition to several ambassadors and a distinguished group of official, religious, and media figures.

This ceremony is the fruit of the efforts exerted by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) and in partnership with the Lebanon-based Lighthouse Foundation, which completed the dubbing of the series into several Arabic dialects, including Egyptian and Syrian, so that we may present the modern standard Arabic version as part of a dramatic work that emphasizes deeply human and spiritual values.

In my opening  address and in my capacity as CCSM director, I highlighted the importance of launching the Arabic version from Jordan—this dear Hashemite country, the Land of Baptism, the land of the Decapolis, and the sacred land that witnessed pivotal religious and historical events. Although the series was filmed in Texas, the United States, and in Matera, Italy, the original events based on the life of Lord Jesus Christ took place here, in our Holy Land, whether in Palestine or Jordan. Among the most outstanding of these events is the baptism of Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River by John the Baptist, who was later martyred at Herod’s fortress in Machaerus, an event that received notable attention in the dramatic work.

 “The Chosen”, which has so far been translated into more than 140 languages, is not merely a television production, but rather a humanitarian media message that affirms the constructive role of media in enhancing human values and safeguarding human dignity. This long-form drama seeks to instill concepts of human fraternity and tolerance, while proving that media can be a tool for construction rather than demolition. Lord Jesus Christ stands at the heart  and the focus of this work bearing a message of love, forgiveness, and human brotherhood. In this context, we recall the words of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV during his meeting with actors and filmmakers two months ago, when he stressed the importance of drama as a space for expressing the human search for implication, justice, and beauty, rather than merely a means of entertainment.

It is noteworthy that the ceremony, held in our dear Jordan, was attended by actors who participated in the series, alongside producers from the global production company “Come and See”. Their meeting with the minister of tourism and antiquities just hours before the event had a profoundly positive impact, which opened broad horizons for cooperation in producing educational and promotional films for religious tourism in Jordan—a country rich in sacred and historical sites where filming future projects may take place in this holy land so that actors, producers, and directors would feel that they are not embodying distant events, but rather living the reality of a land that hosted this message and was sanctified by its waters.

This work constitutes a living testimony of the power of imagery that paves the way towards truth, beauty, and hope. From Amman--Philadelphia, one of the cities of the Decapolis and the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan—we announced, in the name of God and with His blessing, the launch of the Arabic version of “The Chosen”, reaffirming once again the importance of media in promoting human values and dignity, while continuing our work towards a better future for generations to come.