On Friday, February 28, the Latin Patriarchate marked the episcopal ordination of new Bishop Iyad Akram Twal who was appointed by His Holiness Pope Francis as Latin Patriarchal Vicar in Jordan at the Church of the Baptism of Lord Jesus Christ in the Baptism Site.

This episcopal ordination is the first celebration held at the church that was inaugurated by Holy See Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin last January, as it is also the first ordination of a patriarchal vicar at a church in Jordan.

The Episcopal Mass was celebrated by His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and was attended by patriarchal vicars and bishops from various Churches in the Arab world and from sisterly churches, in addition to a large number of priests from the Latin Patriarchate and Catholic Churches, deacons, priests, and nuns in the presence of MPs, dignitaries, ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, and a crowd of worshippers from all over the Kingdom.

Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan Bishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso read out the decree signed by His Holiness Pope Francis appointing Fr. Iyad Twal as Latin patriarchal vicar and Bishop in the Latin Patriarchate, in order to ensure the historical apostolic succession in the Catholic Church.

In the homily delivered during the Holy Mass, His Beatitude Patriarch Pizzaballa expressed the importance of this place where this episcopal ordination takes place for the first time after the major event of the inauguration of the church. Cardinal Pizzaballa discussed the spiritual meaning of the episcopal ordination of Bishop Iyad, the duties entrusted with him, and gave him some instructions to serve as broad outlines for his new ecclesiastical service.

Following the homily, the episcopal ordination ceremony began which included the prayers of consecration and anointing of the head of the new bishop with holy oil, and the granting of the symbols that represent the episcopal service such as the ring, the crown, and the pastoral stick.

The Holy Mass included offering prayers to the Almighty God to grant the bishop wisdom and success in his new mission, for Jordan’s leadership and people, and for the recovery of His Holiness Pope Francis. The Sacred Heart of Jesus choir sang the Holy Mass hymns, while youth and scout groups participated in organizing the celebration, and performing wonderful national performances in the church square.

Prior to the end of the Mass, Bishop Twal sat in the episcopal chair, and walked among the worshippers giving them his first episcopal blessing. Then, he delivered an address in which he expressed his utmost gratitude to His Holiness the Pope, to His Beatitude the Patriarch, and to everyone who attended and prepared for this great event. He stressed his desire to serve the Church in Jordan in close cooperation with the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, with the priests in the Diocese of Jerusalem, as well as with all those with whom he will deal and work on daily bases.

Bishop Twal also expressed his pride and honor to return to Jordan--the country dear to his heart and his birthplace--to complete this spiritual, humanitarian, and national procession of the Latin Church under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al-Hussein Ibn Abdullah II.

With this ordination, Bishop Twal becomes the sixth bishop of Jordan in the Latin Patriarchal Vicariate, which is considered one of the most important diocesan centers of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, where there are spiritual and educational institutions, as well as charitable institutions that have been operating in the Kingdom for decades, all of which constitute a civilizational contribution to the local Church in the dear Jordanian society.