On Friday, June 20, 2025, the Catholic Church in Jordan marked the Christian Pilgrimage Day to the Grotto of Blessed   Mary (Our Lady of the Mount) in the town of Anjara, Ajloun Governorate. This grotto is one of the five main sites endorsed by the Vatican as Christian pilgrimage sites in the Kingdom since 2000.

The Holy Mass in the church square was celebrated by Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Bishop Iyad Twal, which has been the first ceremony he presides since his episcopal ordination last February. Upon arrival, he was received by Governor of Ajloun Nayef Al-Hdayat and heads of the governorate's departments. The Holy Mass was also attended by Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan Bishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, priests, nuns, and worshippers from various parts of the Kingdom.

In his homily, Bishop Twal greeted the faithful who came from all over Jordan--led by His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al-Hussein Ibn Abdullah II--to pray marking the Feast of Virgin Mary at the Grotto of Our Lady of the Mount. He noted that this feast has become special for the Church in Jordan and a feast that unites believers in their love for Virgin Mary, especially this year as the Church celebrates the Jubilee of Hope during which, the Church proceeds assiduously as a pilgrim in hope with the power of faith  amidst the vicissitudes of life with its compass pointing to  Heavens.

His also called on the faithful to let Virgin Mary be the star of hope in their lives, the star of faith that guides them, as well as to be their role model, especially in these days when questions and inquiries arise, as well as hesitant minds and hearts need a sign of hope. He said, "Mary tells us today: Fill your hearts with the Word of God from His noble Gospel, meditate it, and live it".

At the outset of the Holy Mass, Director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader delivered a welcoming address in which he expressed his pride and appreciation for the great efforts undertaken by His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, at the international level, and  designed to extinguish the flames of war. He added that a few days ago, from the podium of the European Parliament, His Majesty expressed his pride that Jordan is the birthplace of the Baptism of Lord Jesus Christ and that the Kingdom, alongside its Muslim brethren, boasts a respected and historic Christian community.

Fr. Bader highly valued His Majesty's continued support for Christian pilgrimage sites in Jordan which was recently manifested in his Royal grant for the maintenance and development of the Grotto of Our Lady of the Mount. On behalf of all participants in the pilgrimage, he expressed his deep gratitude and sincere appreciation for His Majesty's continued support for churches and Christian pilgrimage sites in the Kingdom. Fr. Bader also commended the efforts of His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, His Majesty’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy, for his visit to this church fewer than a month ago to view the restoration work being done on the monastery's facilities and its affiliated children's home.

During the Holy Mass, prayers were offered for Jordan to remain an oasis of security and stability under the wise Hashemite leadership, for peace in Palestine, for a swift and an immediate termination to the gargantuan humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip, and for silencing the military saber-rattling in the Middle East, so as to seek solutions through dialogue and diplomatic means.

At the conclusion of the Holy Mass, pastor of the church of the Incarnate Word Congregation Fr. Yousef Francis thanked the attendees--on behalf of the parishioners and nuns--for their participation in the annual pilgrimage day. He also praised all the combined efforts that contributed to the success of this celebration, including church committees, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Jordan Tourism Board for providing buses, as well as for governmental institutions, various security agencies, the Fountain of Love choir, scout groups, and temple servants.

He also expressed his great appreciation for the generous Royal grant to develop the Grotto of Our Lady of the Mount in Anjara, so that this place may continue to be a model of common living and a beacon that emits light for the entire region in its capacity as a unique oasis of brotherhood, peace, and love under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II.

Prior to the conclusion of the Holy Mass, Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan Bishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso conveyed the greetings of Pope Leo XIV to the faithful. He said, "His Holiness' words when he addressed the faithful for the first time after his election were, 'Peace be with you all,' as they are the words of the Risen Christ. I repeat these words to you today as well. I have come as a pilgrim with you so that we may offer prayers to the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of the Mount, for the gift of peace." He also recalled the Holy Father's repeated calls for an end to war and violence and for the attainment of a climate of peace.