HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and the heir apparent to the British throne, accompanied by his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrived on a visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, were His Majesty King Abdullah II, Her Majesty Queen Rania, and HRH Prince Hussein, Crown Prince of Jordan welcomed them on Tuesday November 16th, 2021.
Archbishop Hosam Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, joined in welcoming HRH the Prince of Wales at the Baptismal Site, the Site of Jesus Christ’s Baptism on the Eastern side of the Jordan River on that same day, with HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, Chief Advisor to King Abdullah II for Religious and Cultural Affairs and Personal Envoy of King Abdullah II, His Beatitude Theophilos III, The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fr. Nabil Haddad, His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Khalaileh, the Minister of Awqaf Islamic Affairs and Holy Places, His Excellency Manar Aldabbas, the Jordanian Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Nouh Al Qudah, her Excellency Bridget Brind, the UK’s Ambassador to Jordan, and other religious and civil representatives.
In his meeting with HRH Prince Ghazi, some Heads of Churches, and diplomats, HRH Prince Charles said concerning Climate Change: “we hope that the talks will not last long, since it is time now for action, this is the most important thing now.”
This visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, was on the occasion of Jordan’s first centennial anniversary, and after the UK has hosted the Glasgow Climate Change Summit.
During their meeting at the Baptismal Site, HRH Prince Ghazi welcomed the guests and gave a speech, then Patriarch Theophilos III also gave a speech, followed by Fr. Nabil.
In his speech Bishop Naoum welcomed HRH Prince Charles on behalf of all Jordanians and highlighted three point. He said: “Gathering at this Baptismal Site, we are reminded of Jesus Christ’s Baptism, which leads us to thinking about the new birth, and the restoration of creation through the Baptismal water. This urges us to care for creation and the environment.”
In his second point, Bishop Naoum praised the Christian-Muslim relationship that dates back to more than one thousand four hundred years, explaining that this relationship is unique in Jordan; emphasising that It is through the relationships between people, we better understand the relationship between humanity and creation. Bishop Naoum’s third point was concerning the fifth mark of the Anglican Five Marks of Mission, which directs people to safeguard and care for creation and the Universe.
HRH Prince Charles and his wife Camilla will remain in Jordan for two days, before heading towards Egypt for two more days, in a special tour in the Middle East, on their first visit outside of the UK since the beginning of the Pandemic.
