The exhibition "Jordan: The Dawn of Christianity" was launched on Friday, January 31, 2025, in the Vatican under the patronage of Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Lina Annab, in the presence of the Jordan’s Ambassador in Rome Qais Abu Dayyeh, Director of the Jordan Tourism Board Dr. Abdul Razzaq Arabiyat, a number of religious and tourism personalities, a number of members of the Senate, and a remarkable presence of Italian and  Vatican media coverage.

The exhibition, supervised by the Ministry of Tourism, the Jordan Tourism Board, and director Iyad Al-Khazouz, includes a presentation of the Christian history of Jordan, particularly the Christian pilgrimage sites in Jordan, namely the Baptism Site, Machaerus, Mount Nebo, Tel Mar Elias, and Our Lady of the Mount grotto in Anjara. A superb video was  also screened about the history of Christian Jordan. The exhibition includes 90 archaeological artifacts that address the ancient history of Jordan, photos of current churches, and photos of the visits of the Popes to Jordan in the years 1964, 2000, 2009, and 2014.

The exhibition is open for free admission effective January 31 until the end of February 2025. A number of religious and civil figures from Jordan, the Vatican, and Italy are expected to visit the exhibition. This exhibition is held this year 2025 in its capacity as the Jubilee Year during which 35 million pilgrims are expected to visit Rome. It will also be held on the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's visit to Jordan, and the 25th anniversary of the beginning of the pilgrimage to the Baptism Site.

In a statement to en.abouna.org website, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ms. Lina Annab noted the importance of this exhibition with regards to elaborating on the historical importance of Jordan in its capacity as the homeland of the prophets and the cradle of Christianity. She added that the exhibition provides an opportunity to display the most important sites in Jordan that shed light on the beginnings of Christianity.

She continued that the exhibition is held in an important year, namely the Jubilee Year marked by the Vatican and the Catholic Church, whereby about 35 million people are expected to visit the papal basilicas this year, furthermore it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Holy See. Stating that Jordan is the only country visited by four Popes, she  said: “Our message today is a message of love and peace conveyed to the world, which we send through this exhibition that sheds light on the history of Christianity in Jordan.”

Director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in Jordan Fr. Dr. Rif’at Bader said: “We are proud to have this exhibition whereby everyone who comes to it as a pilgrim is actually a pilgrim in the history engulfed  with holiness, good impressions, and deep-rooted values ​​in the Jordan of pride and glory.” Her added that the exhibition also addresses the enlightened Hashemite era, in which the highest signs and impressions of convergence, harmony, and religious dialogue are manifested especially in the prevailing common living between Christians and Muslims in Jordan.

Senator Ali Al-Ayed conveyed  to en.abouna.org website his happiness to visit this exhibition, in the company of a number of senators, which concerns the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Holy See as it brings to light the roots of Christianity in Holy Jordan. He said: The exhibition displays  several archaeological artifacts that represent Christianity in Jordan, since the early times until the Hashemite era.”

On the other hand, Director of the Baptism Site Engineer Rustom Mkhjian pointed out that the title  given to the exhibition embodies the fact that Jordan is the cradle of Christianity, as the waters of the Jordan River were blessed after Lord Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist, as His public mission began at the Baptism Site in Bethany Beyond the Jordan.

Adding that Jordan abounds in Christian religious sites, he noted that there are five Christian sites that have been recognized by the Vatican in the Jubilee 2000, yet there are 35 sites that were referred to in the mosaic map of the Holy Land. Mkhjian concluded his statement to en.abouna.org website by calling on visitors and pilgrims from all over the world to visit Jordan, which represents an important part of the Holy Land.