The Apostolic Nunciature in Amman and the Catholic Churches in the Jordan have offered prayers for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. This was reported during the Holy Mass celebrated on Thursday, April 24, by Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan Bishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso at Our Lady of Nazareth Church in Sweifieh, Amman.

The Holy Mass was concelebrated  by Latin Patriarchal Vicar in Jordan Bishop Iyad Twal, Patriarch Emeritus Fouad Twal, Patriarchal  Administrator of the Greek Melkite Catholic Church Archimandrite Boulos Nazha, a number of bishops, Maronite parish priest Fr. Joseph Sweid; Chaldean parish priest Fr. Zaid Hababa, parish priest of the  Syriac Catholic Church Fr. Tha'er Abba, Catholic priests, representatives of sisterly churches, in the presence of ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, as well as a large number of believers.

At the outset of the Mass, Bishop Iyad Twal stated that the entire Church as well as the local Church in the Holy Land, Jordan and Palestine express their deep sorrow over the passing away of Pope Francis and pray for the repose of his soul in this Easter season, the period of the Resurrection. He also expressed his gratitude to all those who offered their condolences, both official and public, over the passing away of Pope Francis. He noted that His Majesty King Abdullah II was the first to send a message of condolences to Christians around the world and to the Catholic Church, in addition to Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, while His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi Ibn Muhammad called him and asked him to convey his greetings and condolences to those attending the Holy Mass.

In the homily delivered in Arabic by Fr. Rif'at Bader on behalf of Apostolic Nuncio Bishop Dal Toso, he expressed the strong bond the Pope had with the cause of peace, and the Gaza Strip. He said, "The Pope has always called for peace, thus voicing the deep desire of everyone as we all desire peace, goodness, and happiness, for no one has the right to deprive others of this desire."

He added that "Pope Francis called for peace and stood with the victims in the Holy Land, as is the case with numerous parts of the world. He was particularly close to our brothers and sisters in Gaza, with whom he spoke on the phone almost daily, while he was concerned for their safety amidst the bombs and violence." He noted that the Pope had expressed a few months ago his intention to visit Gaza, and that today we will never forget his love for our peoples.

Bihop Dal Toso noted that Pope Francis was also a friend of Jordan, a country he visited in 2014, adding that during his reign Jordan-Holy See relations were enhanced. He continued that he was also a great friend of His Majesty King Abdullah II, whom he referred to as a man of peace. The Apostolic Nuncio expressed his deep gratitude to His Majesty the King and the Jordanian government for the appreciation and respect they convey to Pope Francis marking his passing away. He said: "The three days of national mourning, the flying of flags at half mast, and the King's expression of condolences are all eloquent signs of this Kingdom's closeness to the Holy See."

In his homily, Dal Toso addressed the issue of Christian-Muslim dialogue which witnessed remarkable development during the pontificate of Pope Francis, through his visits to the region and his signing of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living together in Abu Dhabi with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar as this is a shared text through which Christians and Muslims seek fraternity, dialogue, rapprochement, and mutual respect, rather than violence, hatred, and revenge. He said: "This is the path we want to follow all the time, because the future must entrench peace and harmony rather than war, and because dialogue is the right path to resolving conflicts, while persecution never leads to goodness."

Later, the Apostolic Nuncio and the bishops of the Catholic Churches in Jordan were offered condolences for the passing away of Pope Francis.

Following is the text of the homily for the Holy Mass for late Pope Francis dated April 24m 2025:

Dear brothers and sisters,

Dear brothers priests,

Beatitude, Excellencies,

Dear Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Dear Representatives of the Christian Churches,

Like Saint John Paul II, Pope Francis also left us in the Octave of Easter. The Paschal Mystery, the death and resurrection of Jesus, are the door to our resurrection. Thus Divine Providence wanted Pope Francis to leave us the day after Easter, almost as if to confirm this mystery of death and resurrection in him too. For us Christians, the resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith: Christ who conquers death is for us the promise, or rather the anticipation that with Christ we too will rise again, that it will be Easter for us too. The enigma of death, the question of what awaits us after death, this finds its solution in faith in Christ, who wants to drag us too beyond death, towards eternal life. This is also the reason for our hope.

Pope Francis has often spoken of hope, and he wanted to dedicate this Holy Year to hope. For us Catholics, the Pope is not only important, but fundamental, because the Pope professes for all of us throughout history the heart of faith. When Jesus asks the apostles, “Who do people say that I am?”, Peter responds: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This is Peter’s great profession of faith, and every Pope repeats these words to keep the authentic faith alive, as Jesus asked him: “Confirm the faith of your brothers.” The Pope is the successor of the apostle Peter, because from his mouth we hear that Christ is the Son of the living God. What is most precious to us, Christ, the Son of the living God, the Pope proclaims, defends, announces. Our unity as Christians is also created in faith. Therefore, the most important task of the Pope is to maintain the unity of the Church, unity around a common faith. In the Church we are all different in sensitivity, culture, rites, but we are one in faith in Christ, of which the Pope is the guarantor.

Pope Francis has governed the Church for 12 years, difficult years, both in the Church itself and in the world, especially if we think of the world around us, for example the conflicts on the other side of the Jordan. The Pope has always asked for peace, thus giving voice to the deep desire of all. In fact, we all want peace, goodness, happiness. And no one has the right to deny others this desire for peace, goodness, happiness. Pope Francis asked for peace because he sided with the victims, in the Holy Land, as in many other parts of the world. He was particularly close to our brothers in Gaza, with almost daily phone calls, concerned for their well-being in the midst of bombs and violence. Yesterday an article appeared saying that a few months ago Pope Francis expressed his intention to go personally to Gaza. We will never forget his love for our people.

Pope Francis was also a friend of Jordan. He visited in 2014, and under his pontificate relations between Jordan and the Holy See intensified. In particular, Pope Francis was a great friend – I say friend – of His Majesty King Abdullah II and called him a man of peace. The King’s last visit to the Pope was in May 2024. I would like to deeply thank King Abdullah and the Government of the Kingdom for the signs of esteem and respect towards Pope Francis on the occasion of his death. The three days of national mourning, the flags at half-mast, the King’s expressions of condolence are an eloquent sign of the closeness of this Kingdom to the Holy See.

As you know, Pope Francis has always wanted to pursue dialogue with our Muslim brothers. In addition to his travels in this region, I would like to recall here the Document on Human Fraternity signed in Abu Dhabi, a text of common commitment, Christians and Muslims, to seek fraternity, dialogue, closeness, mutual respect, and never violence, hatred, revenge. This is a path on which we want to continue to walk, because the future must be one of peace and harmony, and not of war. Peace: in today's Gospel also Christ gives the world that peace, which the world needs. I would like to reiterate what was in the heart of Pope Francis, but which is also the profound conviction that moves the Holy See in its relations with the world: dialogue is the right path to resolve conflicts, while the oppression of one man against another never leads to good.

Dear brothers, I would also like to thank on behalf of the Holy See the many people who in recent days have expressed their sorrow to me for the death of the Pope. Many appreciated him, for his words, for his gestures, for his simple style, even beyond the confines of the Catholic Church. As we remember Pope Francis, we entrust him to the mercy of God, which we all need. But we also want to pray for the Holy Church, and in particular that the Lord may give his Church a Pope who, like Peter, can continue to spread and defend the faith in Christ, the Son of the living God. May the Lord hear our prayers, welcome Pope Francis into his kingdom, and provide for his Church in the future, in a world so conflicted and divided, a Pope who is a faithful and wise shepherd. Amen.