His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, stressed on Monday, May 18, that the Baptism of Lord Christ is not merely a historical event relevant to the past, but rather an eternal moment that remains present and addresses every person, while conveying a call for spiritual renewal, repentance, and rediscovering our identity through baptism.

Delivering an address during His Majesty King Abdullah II’s meeting with Church leaders at a time when the King directed the government to adopt and support the initiative marking the second millennium of the Baptism of Christ in 2030, Cardinal Pizzaballa emphasized that the initiative invites us to look ahead with faith and responsibility. He also affirmed the importance of keeping the Baptism Site a living place, where people do not merely visit, but rather encounter God and rediscover the depth of their baptism.

Cardinal Pizzaballa also expressed profound appreciation for the role played by Jordan and by His Majesty the King with regards to the continued efforts deigned to protect the holy sites and promote the values of common living, dialogue, and peace not only in Jordan, but throughout the region and beyond it. He said: “In this blessed land, we see in your leadership a living model of how faith can become a bridge among peoples and a basis for peace in the world.