Quarter of a century of Royal Christmas meetings

Since His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein’s ascension to the Throne, he has been embarking on welcoming the heads of Churches in Jordan and Palestine to convey to them well wishes marking Christmas and the start of the new year. This took place since 1999, namely since the first Christmas of the reign of His Majesty King Abdullah II. As we mark the silver jubilee of His Majesty‘s ascension to the Throne, we also mark the silver jubilee of this annual Christmas meeting, which has taken on the character of a distinctive, necessary, and inspiring annual meeting.

On this occasion, we also mark this year the 25^th anniversary of the declaration that recognizes Christmas as an official holiday in beloved Jordan, where it was in the first place a holiday for Christian students, then turned into a school and university holiday, and then it turned into an official national holiday during the reign of His Majesty the King.

As we commemorate this anniversary, we review all the meetings that took place over a quarter of a century with His Majesty the King, as most of which took place at the Royal Hashemite Court, then at Al Husseiniya Palace, and then these meetings were held in some governorates such as Fuhais, Madaba, Karak, and Husun.

The extended Jordanian family rallies behind its leader, the master of the house, where addresses are delivered over the years while proceeding according to the general pattern and according to what is happening in the surrounding areas. However, throughout these years, what comes first are the firm Jordanian constants which are firm throughout history, firstly the Jordanian national unity  by which all citizens and people of Jordan rally behind the wise Hashemite leadership. In this respect, it is an opportunity to ascertain  Christians’ of Jordan loyalty and affiliation, namely the heads of churches, clergymen, religious sisters, and the faithful, in addition to the institutions working in the service of beloved Jordan, especially in the fields of education, economy, and charity.

Secondly, in addition to heads of Churches in Jordan and Palestine, heads of Islamic departments--whether in Jordan or Palestine-- come and express the state of common living, brotherhood, convergence, and solidarity between Muslims and Christians. We know that over the course of a quarter of a century, there have also been several initiatives issued from Jordan and sponsored by His Majesty the King which reflect on the noble Jordanian model in viewing religion as a sign of rapprochement and never been a sign of disagreement or differences.

Thirdly, as for the Palestinian issue, there is also an emphasis that Christians are an integral part of Palestine and that they, like their Muslim brethren, long for independence, freedom and peace. There is no doubt that there is constant praise for Jordan’s pivotal role, whether through the Hashemite custodianship of the holy sites in Jerusalem, or also through the current repeated calls for that attainment of a ceasefire from the Jordanian side, which is the strongest diplomacy that always calls for the fulfillment of this desperate effort to cease fire and restore normalcy to life and this, of course, necessitates exerting very great efforts. There is also praise for Jordan’s humanitarian role through launching of land aid convoys, organized by the Royal Hashemite Charity Commission, or through air lifting of aid whose first operation was led by His Majesty the King through which aid was delivered to the afflicted Palestinian people who are being subjected to genocide that is condemned by the civilized world and all religious laws.

 So, for a quarter of a century, Jordan has been witnessing this state of brotherhood and consolidation of the values ​​of common living.  May this celebration of the silver jubilee of His Majesty the King’s ascension to the throne, the official holiday, and the meeting at the Hashemite House with Islamic and Christian clerics motivate the new generations to respect and preserve this great legacy of love, solidarity, and true brotherhood that His Majesty, may God protect and preserve him, nurtures.