At the conclusion of the proceedings of the Conference “Christians of the East as Co-Builders of the Future” held in Amman on 29-30 October 2026, and organized by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in cooperation with the German Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, with the participation of official ecclesiastical, academic and intellectual figures from Jordan and several countries of the Middle East and Germany, the participants extend their sublime expressions of gratitude and appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein for his continuous efforts to consolidate national unity, enhance interfaith harmony, defend the Christian presence in the Middle East, and protect the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem within the framework of the Hashemite Custodianship.

The participants also extend gratitude to His Excellency Prime Minister Dr Jaafar Hassan for his gracious patronage of the conference, and to His Excellency Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Dr. Imad Hijazeen, who deputized for him, for attending its opening session. They also express their appreciation to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, its leadership, government and people for serving as a model of common living as well as  for providing an opportunity for dialogue and engagement among its diverse religious and cultural components.

The participants express profound sorrow and grief over the terrorist attack that targeted the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George in the township of Hmoud, Karak Governorate, which claimed the lives of nine citizens. They extend their heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to His Majesty King Abdullah II, the families to the relatives of the victims, and to the Jordanian extended family as a whole. They pray that may the souls of all the deceased rest in peace and that the wounded  may have a speedy recovery.

The participants also strongly condemn this attack and reject all forms of terrorism, extremism and violence. They express their pride in the Jordan Armed Forces and the security services, their appreciation for their efforts and sacrifices in protecting the homeland and its citizens, as well as in safeguarding the Kingdom’s security and stability. They also commend the expressions of solidarity demonstrated by Jordanian Muslims and Christians alike, which reflected the depth of national unity and the strength of Jordan’s social fabric in the face of attempts to spread fear and schism.

The conference convened at a time when the Middle East region is undergoing profound political, economic and social transformations, associated with challenges related to conflicts, migrations and demographic change. Drawing on the concept of “Togetherness”, the participants discussed the future of the Christian presence in the region, affirming that Christians are not merely communities that seek to preserve their existence, but rather full-fledged citizens and partners in building their societies and shaping their future.

The conference sessions addressed Christian unity despite ecclesiastical diversity, the role of diaspora communities in maintaining ties with their countries of origin, and Christian-Muslim partnership in serving the common good, in addition to  specialized discussions on the situation of Christians and their contributions in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Palestine.

Recommendations:

Based on these themes, the conference makes the following recommendations:

First: Consolidating equal citizenship: Strengthening the rule of law, respect for religious freedoms and fundamental rights, and guaranteeing the participation of all citizens, including Christians, in political, economic and social life, free from discrimination and exclusion.

Second: Moving from preserving the presence to active participation: Encouraging Christians to contribute to reform, modernization and development, as well as decision-making processes as full-fledged partners in building their homelands rather than communities merely awaiting protection and support.

Third: Enhancing Christian Unity: Expanding ecumenical dialogue and cooperation among Churches and Christian communities, while respecting the distinct identity of every church, and develop joint initiatives in education, healthcare, social services and humanitarian work.

Fourth: Activating the role of diaspora communities: Building sustainable bridges between Christians residing in their homelands and members of diaspora communities, harnessing their expertise and resources to support institutions and development projects, while strengthening younger generations’ connection to their cultural and national roots.

Fifth. Developing Christian-Muslim partnership: Transcending dialogue and common living towards practical cooperation in serving the common good through joint initiatives in education, development, humanitarian work, as well as efforts to combat poverty, extremism and hate speech.

Sixth: Enhancing stability and protecting human dignity: Supporting efforts designed to achieve peace, protect civilians in addition to places of worship and religious institutions, as well as create conditions that enable citizens to live in security, freedom and dignity and participate in shaping the future of their countries.

Seventh: Empowering the youth and women: Expanding opportunities for young people and women to participate in church and community life, leadership and decision-making, as well as invest in education, vocational training and initiatives that enhance employment opportunities and national affiliation.

Eighth:  Enhancing participation in reform and development: Encouraging Christians to continue contributing to political, administrative and economic modernization, in addition to drawing on Jordan’s experience in citizenship and common living, while respecting the distinct circumstances and experiences of other countries.

Jordan and the Message of Common Living:

The participants commend the role played by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, in promoting interfaith harmony and protecting the Christian presence in the Middle East. They also affirm the importance of continuing these efforts to entrench a culture of citizenship and partnership.

They also commend Jordan’s preparations to mark the 2,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Lord Jesus Christ in 2030, in its capacity as an opportunity to highlight the Kingdom’s rich Christian heritage, enhance its position as a global destination for Christian pilgrimage, and present its expertise of common living and interfaith dialogue to the world.

In conclusion, the participants extend their gratitude to the Catholic Center for Studies and Media and the Jordan Office of the German Konrad Adenauer Stiftung for organizing the conference, and to all speakers, participants and institutions that contributed to the success of its proceedings.

They affirm that the future of Christians in the Middle East cannot be dissociated from the future of their societies, and that the challenges facing the region require cooperation among all its people, away from isolation and exclusion, and based on citizenship, justice and respect for human dignity.

Throughout the centuries, Christians have been an integral part of the history and civilization of the East. Today, they are called upon to continue to contribute to building their homelands, not merely as witnesses to the past, but as partners in the present and architects of the future.

From Amman, the conferees affirm that the future of the East cannot be built through fear of the other, but rather through trust in one another and working together; nor through protecting one community in isolation from others, but rather through safeguarding the dignity and rights of all. Our message is to move from the logic of mere survival to participation, from protection to partnership, and from speaking about the future to actively contributing to its construction. The Christians of the East are not on the margins of the region’s future. They are partners in shaping it, alongside their Muslim brethren and all fellow citizens, working towards an East that has room for everyone.