On Friday, January 9, 2026, the Catholic Churches will proceed to the Baptism Site of Lord Jesus Christ marking the 26th annual pilgrimage, which is a spiritual tradition that brings together believers from all parts of Jordan and embodies the sanctity of the Baptism Site in its capacity as the starting point of  Lord Jesus Christ's mission after His baptism in the Jordan River.

Fr. Dr. Rifat Bader, director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) and official spokesperson for the annual pilgrimage, has said in a statement that Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will celebrate the massive Mass at the Baptismal Church, which was inaugurated last year by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi Ibn Mohammad, who represented His Majesty King Abdullah II at the time. Present at the ceremony will be Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Bishop Iyad Twal, and the heads of the Catholic Churches in Jordan (Greek Catholic, Maronite, Chaldean, Syriac, and Armenian), in addition to a large number of believers from all parts of Jordan.

He added that prior to the religious ceremony, Cardinal Pizzaballa will hold a press conference alongside Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Dr. Imad Hijazin in the presence of a group of journalists from the Vatican, including Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication. His Beatitude the Cardinal will issue an appeal to pilgrims worldwide to resume their visits to the Holy Land, following two years marked with regional difficulties at the political and humanitarian levels, as well as in the wake of the faltering religious tourism. He stressed that this appeal embodies hope and renews spiritual connection among Christians around the world.

He pointed out that this year's pilgrimage acquires added significance as it falls within the framework of the early preparations for the 2,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Lord Jesus Christ, scheduled for 2030. This is a major world event that will draw the attention of pilgrims and visitors from all corners of the world to Jordan,  while necessitating coordination and preparations at all levels to ensure a spiritually enriching and inspiring environment for all pilgrims and visitors, which reflects the Kingdom's unique position as a center for Christian pilgrimage and holy sites.

In this context, Fr. Bader highlighted the invitation extended by His Majesty King Abdullah II to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to visit the Baptism Site during his visit to the Vatican last October. He also considered this step a reflection of Jordan's continued support for Christian pilgrimage, its preservation of the sacred heritage, and its reinforcement of its historical role as a beacon of interfaith dialogue.

Fr. Bader commended the efforts exerted in managing the Baptism Site, particularly those exerted by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi Ibn Muhammad, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Commission for the Baptism Site, the site's administration, the military and security authorities, the preparatory church committees, the Association for Scouts and Guides, the altar servers, and the choir. He noted that the Ministry of Tourism provides buses to churches throughout the Kingdom in accordance with arrangements made with the Latin Patriarchate. He added that the CCSM had extended invitations to various local and international media outlets operating in Jordan to provide a distinguished coverage of the event.

Fr. Bader concluded his statement by extending his sincerest wishes to His Majesty King Abdullah II, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein Ibn Abdullah II, and the extended  Jordanian family, hoping that the new year would be a year of peace and stability in Gaza, Palestine, and the entire world, while pleading that the Kingdom would remain a symbol of peace and interfaith dialogue, as well as  a beacon of hope and faith in the region and the world.