His Majesty King Abdullah II, during a meeting with Pope Francis on Thursday, May 2, 2024 reaffirmed Jordan’s commitment to undertaking its religious and historical role in safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, under the Hashemite Custodianship.

At the meeting held in Vatican City, His Majesty stressed the need to stop Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in Jerusalem, as well as in the West Bank, warning against the consequences of continued Israeli violations of holy sites in Jerusalem, according to a Royal Court statement. 

During the meeting, attended by HRH  Prince Ghazi, His Majesty’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy, the King expressed Jordan’s commitment to safeguarding Christian holy sites, especially the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ (Bethany beyond the Jordan), located on the East Bank of the Jordan River, the statement said. 

Discussions also covered the dangerous developments in Gaza, with His Majesty stressing the need to immediately end the humanitarian catastrophe and impose a lasting ceasefire, while ensuring the delivery of sufficient aid through all possible means and without any obstruction or delay.

The King called on the international community to maintain support for UNRWA to enable it to provide humanitarian services in accordance with its UN mandate.

His Majesty reiterated that the only way to reach just and comprehensive peace is through the two-state solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to the statement.

On the other hand, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, told journalists there was a "very cordial dialogue," at the private encounter which lasted 20 minutes.

After their conversation, and greetings with the Jordanian delegation, there was the traditional exchange of gifts between the two leaders.

The Holy Father presented King Abdullah with a mosaic depicting the papal blessing in St. Peter's Square, the work of mosaicists from the Vatican's Mosaic Studio, as well as volumes of the various papal documents issued throughout the pontificate, including his Message for the World Day of Peace 2024. King Abdullah II reciprocated by gifting the Pope a metal sculpture made of Arabic letters.

Pope Francis and the Sovereign of the Hashemite Kingdom have known each other since the start of the Holy Father's papacy.

Their first meeting was in 2014 for the occasion of Pope Francis' Apostolic Journey to the Holy Land, which also included a stop in the Jordanian capital of Amman.