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The inauguration of one of the largest churches in the Middle East, on the banks of the River Jordan, brought Christians together in prayers for peace.

The ceremony to officially open the Church of the Baptism of Christ in January, 2025 was broadcast on SAT-7 ARABIC program Good Morning Beirut.

Fr. Dr. Rif’at Bader, director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in Jordan, the event’s spokesperson, told SAT-7, “A new church is inaugurated in the Middle East, a sign of hope not just for Jordanians but for all Christians in the Middle East and for everyone around the world. We hope for a better future after prayers were lifted in the church for everyone.”

The building of the church at the Baptism Site, the site of Lord Jesus’ baptism, took 15 years. It has been supported by the King and Queen of Jordan, who attended a ceremony to mark the laying of the foundation stone in 2009. The inauguration of the church on 10 January was attended by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, the King’s Chief Advisor for Religious and Cultural Affairs.

The occasion had special significance for Rami Halaseh, SAT-7’s Arabic channels executive director. “As a Christian Jordanian, my whole being has always been captured with awe every time I walk along the meandering River of Jordan, and every time I step down to that very spot where our Lord Jesus was baptized.

“It is a strategic and a historical milestone that the Catholic Church has invested around 15 years to build, joining other church denominations’ great endeavors, not only to keep this location alive, but also to position it as a global pilgrim site for the universal Church.”

Rami said that the Christian presence in the region had been dramatically impacted by crises over many decades, but Middle Eastern believers were holding onto their faith and its historical roots, adding, “The inauguration of the new church building is further evidence of this steadfast legacy, and of the unwavering commitment to being the salt of the earth and light of the world.”