Issued by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media - Jordan. Editor-in-chief Fr. Rif'at Bader - موقع أبونا abouna.org

Published on Wednesday, 28 July 2021

CCSM conveys well-wishes on nomination of Salt, city of tolerance, on UNESCO World Heritage Site

en.abouna.org :

 

The Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan has conveyed well-wishes on the nomination of the city of Salt, the city of tolerance and urban hospitality, on the UNESCO World Heritage Site by the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), during its 44th session, held virtually in China.

 

This was reported in an address delivered by CCSM Director and Member of Jordan Tourism Council Fr. Dr.  Rif'at Bader at the opening of the Conference of the Union of the Religious Congregations in Jordan, which was launched on  Wednesday, July 28, at the Dead Sea, in cooperation with the German Development Agency (GIZ).

 

He said that we are all proud and pleased with this Jordanian achievement relevant to the addition of the sixth Jordanian site to the World Heritage List. He pointed out that the inclusion of this vital city in the list of international sites is a matter of pride and honor, especially as it has taken a name dear to our hearts, namely that it is the city of tolerance and of urban hospitality.

 

Fr. Bader continued stating that this city of tolerance reflects the Jordanian image as a whole, namely as a model of common living between Christians and Muslims who jointly express solidarity in times of prosperity and adversity as well as in all the circumstances that Jordan has experienced over the past decades, which constitutes a civilized mage that we convey to the entire world while being on the threshold of a new centenary. He added that urban hospitality is part of our cultural heritage and Jordanian traditions which has neither been forgotten nor has faded away.

 

Fr. Bader pointed out that in 1866, Salt witnessed the establishment of the first parish of the Latin Patriarchate in Transjordan which marked the beginning of cooperation and solidarity among the children of the homeland which was marked through the school which has been supervised by the Rosary Sisters. This city, he asserted, expresses until this moment solidarity among its various families of different origins, adding that the distinguished architecture in Salt and its unique patterns are nothing but a sublime sign of civilization implying a humanitarian sign based on the fact that the difference does not mean disagreement, but rather cooperation, harmony, peace, brotherhood and common living.

 

 He also noted that Salt is the first still inhabited city that has been added to the World Heritage Site in addition to the other five Jordanian sites, which are archaeological and historical ones that we cherish and which are being visited by tourists and pilgrims from beloved Jordan and from people around the world. He said that the city of Salt is now qualified to be on the list of world tourism sites due to the high prestige that the world holds through UNESCO.

 

Fr. Bader thanked all those who exerted efforts that nominated Salt to the World Heritage Site which includes the municipality and all the employees who worked day and night in order to obtain this universal feature. He said that no regret was expressed the last time when the Baptism site was included on the World Heritage Site and the consideration of the city of Salt was postponed. All those in charge of the city's heritage, tourism and culture rushed to present the request for the second time and consequently obtained this honorable result which we are proud of and which we forward to His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein who has always presented Jordan in a civilized and decent manner, in addition to the diplomatic efforts which can be added to the human and cultural heritage that this dear country enjoys.