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May 10, 2009

Pope Celebrates Sunday Mass in Jordan
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Arabic chanting could be heard as the crowd awaited the arrival of Pope
Benedict 
A large crowd of thousands of people turned out to attend Pope
Benedict's open air mass at the international stadium in Amman. The pope
urged Christians in the Middle East to persevere in their faith despite
the difficulties they face. Pope Benedict XVI, center, arrives at the
International Stadium of Amman to celebrate Holy Mass, 10 May 2009Arabic
chanting could be heard as the crowd awaited the arrival of Pope
Benedict. Many got up very early to attend the special mass in Amman.
Catholics from across the Middle East arrived in Amman to attend the
service. Many held flags from Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. Archbishop Fouad
Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, addressed the pope at the start of
the mass. He assured the pope that Jordanians are making every effort to
provide assistance to Iraqis who have fled the war."In the aftermath of
the American invasion of Iraq, more than one million Iraqis took refuge
in Jordan," he said. "Almost 40,000 of them are Christians. We know Holy
Father how much this issue of the world refugees concerns you
personally. We would like to assure you that our diocese is doing its
utmost to provide them with pastoral needs."Pope Benedict urged
Christians to remain faithful to their roots and the Church's mission in
the Holy Land. He encouraged them to persevere in efforts to bear
witness to the Christian faith and urged them to maintain the Church's
presence in the changing social fabric of these ancient lands. "The
Catholic community here is deeply touched by the difficulties and
uncertainties which affect all the people of the Middle East," he said.
Pope Benedict on Sunday was also scheduled to visit the site believed to
be where Jesus was baptized on the River Jordan. On Monday he travels on
to Israel and the Palestinian territories, in what is considered the
most delicate part of his first Middle Eastern tour. 


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