Issued by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media - Jordan. Editor-in-chief Fr. Rif'at Bader - موقع أبونا abouna.org

Published on Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Jordan: New Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso celebrates his first holy Mass



By Munir Bayouk/ en.abouna.org :

On Monday, March 27, 2023, Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso celebrated his first solemn Mass in Jordan after his nomination as new apostolic nuncio to Jordan in January 2023 and following the presentation of his credentials to King Abdullah II on March 8, 2023.

 

In attendance at Our Lady of Nazareth Church in Sweifieh, western Amman, were Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, patriarchal vicars in Jordan and the Holy Land, Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Jordan Msgr. Mauro Lalli, heads of Churches in the Kingdom and their representatives, members of diplomatic corps, public figures, priests, nuns, heads of ecclesiastical institutions, and a large number of believers.

 

At the outset of the Holy Mass,  Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Bishop Jamal D'aibes delivered a welcoming address during which he expressed the joy of the local Church while welcoming Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso. He said: "Your presence with us is a clear sign of the love and care expressed by His Holiness Pope Francis in our Church and our country." He stressed that the cooperation between the local Church and the Apostolic Nunciature is intended for the good of the Church and the Jordanian society, as well as for the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the East.

 

After reading verses of the Holy Bible, Archbishop Dal Toso expressed great joy at his appointment as  apostolic nuncio to Jordan, as for the first time there is a resident apostolic nuncio in this country which provides evidence of the interest expressed by the Holy See, especially His Holiness Pope Francis.

 

He addressed the believers saying, "I begin my mission with humility and I am certain that only through mutual listening, with everyone in one's own position and special role, we can efficiently serve the Churches in this land, the land of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the entire people." He also thanked everyone because he felt from the beginning the warm reception conveyed to him especially by His Majesty King Abdullah II.

 

Reflecting on the Biblical text (healing of the centurion’s servant), he indicated that the Bible presents the Roman centurion as a model of faith, and for this reason the Latin Church’s rite adopted his words before Communion: "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed." He pointed out that the Church presents this text to believers in the Lenten Season as an invitation to enter into a relationship of faith with the Lord.

 

He said: "This is the first mission of the Church, namely to inspire faith, to proclaim faith, and to support faith in Lord Jesus Christ because the Lord died, rose from the dead, and He promises all those who believe in Him eternal life. Lord Jesus Christ definitely heals and gives life because He rose from the dead and overcame whatever that denies our desire for life and happiness. Lord Jesus Christ did all this out of love by sacrificing His life to ensure us eternal life."

 

Archbishop Dal Toso added: "Therefore, our main mission is to reciprocate helping one another, and to help every person to live in faith, namely to trust in Lord Jesus Christ and place one's life in His hands, because the Lord is our life and our salvation. Therefore, the most important thing that the Church can do is to accompany every person in a personal encounter with Christ, so that, like the centurion, they may experience life and be healed by Him."

 

He continued: "Consequently all Churches, despite their diversity, should feel unity in this regard by conveying Christ and His life to people of today. There is no Christian life without the Spirit of Christ." He pointed out to the distinction enjoyed by the Churches of the Holy Land as they derive their faith directly from the life of the Lord Christ, Who became flesh, lived, and left marks of his earthly life on this holy land. He referred in particular to the Baptism Site, which is located a few kilometers away, and reminds us of our baptism, the gift of eternal life.

 

He said: "Since we know that Lord Jesus Christ wants to give life, we are also called upon to strive on Earth where the conditions relevant to healing, reconciliation, peace and serenity are given, with which life can germinate more freely. Therefore, the Church has always sought to help humans attain this concrete need, and therefore I would also like to express my gratitude to all in this country who are committed to the promotion of humanity, especially to the most vulnerable, as Pope Francis teaches us well."

 

He added: The Church in this country feels called upon to bear witness to love, to seek peace and reconciliation among people, as well as calls on them in particular to attain this desire for life that is rooted in the depths of their hearts and shared by all. Therefore, the mission of the apostolic nuncio, who represents the Holy Father and the Holy See, is represented in promoting the desire for attaining the goodness and the life that every human being possesses within oneself, being created by God, and to encourage one to the bring about the unity of spirit so that we can all find the way to a civilization that respects life.

 

He pointed out that the Catholic Church cooperates, through the apostolic nuncios, with the leaders of nations for the sake of all people. He stressed that the Church can count on the generosity of those who rule Jordan, and expressed his support for the local Church that makes its own contributions in this way. In conclusion, Bishop Dal Toso called on everyone to pray for him so that he would carry out the duties entrusted to him,  while assuring everyone that they have in the apostolic nuncio is a friend and a brother who seeks with them the fulfillment of the goodness of the Church and its holy people.

 

Before the conclusion of the Holy Mass, Archbishop Dal Toso presented his credentials to Head of the Archdiocese His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa who delivered an address welcoming the apostolic nuncio, the representative of the Pontiff, on behalf of the local Churches, while emphasizing the need for prayer, support and cooperation for him in his new mission in the country of baptism.

 

After the Holy Mass, Archbishop Dal Tozo received well wishes in the church hall.