Editorial Director of the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication Andrea Tornielli said the 2,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Jesus Christ in 2030 represents a sign of hope, describing Jordan’s preparations to commemorate the occasion as a message of peace and mercy from the land of the Baptism to the world.

In remarks to the Jordan News Agency (Petra) on Wednesday, August 12, Tornielli said the 2030 commemoration of the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, at the site now identified by archaeologists and historians, will mark 2,000 years since Christ was baptized by John the Baptist.

He said the 2030 anniversary is particularly significant because of its connection to major events in the history of Christianity.

Tornielli explained that the Baptism of Jesus Christ, which coincided with the beginning of His public ministry and the calling of the first apostles, takes believers to the heart of the Gospel message, giving the commemoration at the site of the event global religious and spiritual significance.

He said Jordan is part of the Holy Land not only because the Baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist took place on the banks of the Jordan River, where John lived an ascetic life and preached, but also because other events recounted in the Gospel took place on Jordanian territory.

Tornielli stressed the importance of Jordan preparing for the anniversary and marking it in a manner reflecting its religious and spiritual significance for Christians worldwide.

He noted that Jordan is a Muslim-majority country where followers of different religions, particularly Christians, live in peace, saying this gives the occasion an additional dimension as a message promoting coexistence, peace, and living together.

Tornielli also pointed out that Jordan was the first country visited by a successor of Saint Peter during the first major apostolic pilgrimage of the modern era, when Pope Saint Paul VI visited in January 1964. He highlighted the significance of that visit in the history of papal pilgrimages to the Holy Land.

He said the anniversary should serve as a sign of hope for all, adding that the message of peace and mercy that emerged from the Holy Land and spread throughout the world is particularly relevant at a time marked by hatred, violence, and war.

Tornielli said commemorating the Baptism in 2030, while also looking ahead to the anniversary of the Redemption three years later, offers an opportunity to reaffirm that love, peace, mercy, and fraternity are essential to humanity’s future.

He added that the significance of the occasion extends beyond recalling a religious event that took place 2,000 years ago, saying its message of love, peace, mercy, and fraternity is especially relevant amid current conflicts and violence around the world.

He also expressed hope that the 2030 commemorations, which he said require appropriate preparation, would also provide an opportunity for people around the world to learn more about Jordan and its religious sites.

Tornielli, who visits Jordan annually, made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Petra, addressing the Vatican perspective on the 2030 anniversary, Jordan’s religious significance, and the values of peace, mercy, and coexistence associated with the commemoration.