Christian leaders praise Royal move to fund restoration of Christ’s Tomb

AMMAN — Christian leaders in Jordan and politicians this week praised His Majesty King Abdullah’s Royal makruma to cover the expenses of the restoration of Jesus’ Tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine and Jordan, and members of the Greek Orthodox church thanked the King for his generous gesture, describing it as an active implementation of the Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian sites in Jerusalem.

The patriarch’s consultative council also issued a statement thanking the King, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Leaders of the Anglican church in Jordan also commended the move, saying it is characteristic of Hashemites’ commitment to safeguarding holy sites in Jerusalem, and voicing hope that it will enhance solidarity among various peoples and faiths in the region and the world, Petra reported.

In a statement also released this week, Father Rifat Bader, director of the Catholic Centre for Studies and Media, said that “the generous provision for the restoration of the Holy Tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre” reaffirms the Hashemites as custodians of holy places in Palestine in deeds rather than words.

“We, as citizens of dear Jordan and as Christians of the Orient, cherish and appreciate this invaluable gesture and sublime initiative,” Bader said in the statement. 

The move “reinforces and strengthens national ties as well as the historical relations and the spirit of ... real citizenship shared between Muslims and Christians”, he added. 

It also “promotes and strengthens the Arab Christian presence in Palestine and in Middle East where Christians are exposed in some countries to persecution and displacement”.

Also this week, the Senate Palestine Committee and the Islamic Centrist Party praised the Royal gesture, seeing it as a sign of His Majesty’s support for interfaith harmony.