On May 14, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pitzzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, began a pastoral visit to Saint George the Martyr Church in Irbid, northern Jordan, in the framework of his mission based on “presence and closeness.” The parish currently includes around 182 families, totaling about 623 people.

During the visit, which will continue until Sunday, May 17, Cardinal Pizzaballa will hold a series of meetings to learn about the parish’s activities, in addition to visiting institutions and sister churches, as well as the sick in their homes. On the spiritual level, he will administer the sacraments of the first communion, confirmation, and baptism, and will also visit several civil institutions. He is accompanied by parish priest Fr. Firas Arida, and Chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate Fr. Davide Meli.

At the outset of the visit, an official reception was held for Cardinal Pizzaballa at the parish, which featured welcoming speeches expressing the joy of the church community at this pastoral visit. Later, he celebrated Holy Mass with broad participation from the faithful. He concluded his first day with a meeting with youth groups from the northern region of Jordan