Amman, Jordan, May 11, 2009 / 01:48 am
Bringing his time in Jordan to a close, Pope Benedict XVI bid the country farewell at the Queen Alia airport on Monday morning. He said that the events of the visit will remain “firmly etched” in his memory and thanked King Abdullah for his willingness to allow the Christian community to grow in Jordan.
Although Pope Benedict only spent three days in Jordan, he was treated very well by the Jordanians, a fact he mentioned in his farewell speech. “As I prepare for the next stage of my pilgrimage to the lands of the Bible, I want to thank all of you for the warm welcome that I have received in Jordan over these last few days,” he said.
The Holy Father then noted the Catholic events that brought him “particular joy.”
First, he recalled the opening of a new wing of the Queen of Peace (Regina Pacis) Center, which he said will “open up fresh possibilities of bringing hope to those who struggle with difficulties of various kinds, and to their families.”
Another event the Pope recalled with joy was the blessing of the cornerstones for the two churches that will be built in Bethany, the site where archaeologists say that Jesus was baptized.