His Holiness Pope Tawadros II received Dr. Emad Hejazin, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and his accompanying delegation, at the Papal Residence in Cairo this evening.

During the meeting, discussions focused on ways to support and promote religious tourism to the Baptism Site (“Bethany Beyond the Jordan”) in Jordan, which holds profound spiritual and historical significance for Christians around the world.

The meeting also addressed preparations for the celebrations planned for 2030 to commemorate 2,000 years since the baptism of the Lord Christ in the Jordan River, as well as the various celebrations and activities that will precede this major occasion, beginning in the coming years and continuing through 2030.

The visiting Minister expressed his desire to host a number of events organized by the Coptic Orthodox Church at the Baptism Site, in addition to promoting religious tourism to Jordan in general and to the Baptism Site in particular. He also expressed his hope of encouraging Coptic businessmen, as well as public and religious figures, to visit the site and learn about its spiritual and historical significance.

Pope Tawadros affirmed the importance and sanctity of the Baptism Site. His Holiness also requested the preparation of an integrated vision for the proposed events and activities over the coming years, in preparation for coordinating their implementation and promoting them within the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt and throughout the world. This would encourage churches to organize pilgrimages to Jordan, particularly to the Baptism Site, thereby contributing to the promotion of religious tourism and the revival of the spiritual and historical journey associated with the site of the baptism of the Lord Christ in the Jordan River.

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