Churches in Jordan, following the Julian Calendar, have celebrated the blessed Palm Sunday. Since the early morning hours, churches were filled with worshippers holding palm and olive branches, commemorating the entry of Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.

At the Church of Saint George the Martyr in Irbid, Latin Patriarchal Vicar in Jordan Bishop Iyad Twal celebrated Palm Sunday Mass, in the presence of parish priest Father Firas Arida. In his homily, Bishop Twal highlighted the significance  of humility with which Lord Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem, urging believers to strive  and promote a spirit of brotherhood instead of hostility.

He also recalled the words of Pope Leo XIV during last week’s Palm Sunday celebrations, noting that “Jesus Christ is a leader of peace and a messenger of peace and love, and thus He calls on His followers to be messengers of gentleness and peace.” He offered prayers so that the sound of war in the Middle East and the Holy Land would fall silent, and glorious Easter would restore peace, reassurance, and stability.

Bishop Twal also offered prayers with the faithful for Jordan to remain an oasis of safety and dialogue, as well as a land of peace, prosperity, and stability, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein Ibn Abdullah II.

In the capital Amman and at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Father Rif’at Bader, director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media and parish priest of the Sacred Heart Church, celebrated  Holy Mass in the presence of a multitude of believers. In his homily, he said in his homily that this Sunday holds a distinguished place in the Church calendar as the Catholic Church and other churches following the Gregorian Calendar celebrate Easter, while in Jordan, which follows the Julian Calendar, we observe Palm Sunday. This unveils a unique ecclesiastical and national scene that reflects the distinct character of this holy country, which unified its religious holidays more than 50 years ago, thus allowing believers from different churches to walk together along one path toward the Holy Week.

Father Bader also praised the efforts of King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Al Hussein Ibn Abdullah in reducing tensions and promoting just political solutions through a diplomacy of peace that calls for wisdom, calm, and attentiveness to people’s needs in this region that goes through successive stages of unrest. He also paid  tribute to the security apparatuses present at church gates during the Holy Week, to ensure the safety of worshippers and a peaceful atmosphere for the celebrations.