Archbishop Dal Toso: Jordan remains an example of peace in the Middle East
Dialogue and mutual exchange are the Holy See’s “weapons”, the apostolic nuncio to Jordan told AsiaNews. The Jordanian government is committed to “paths of reconciliation”. Aid is flowing constantly from Jordan to Gaza. Syrian refugees are cautious but eager to return home. Some 50,000 have already made the trip. The new Latin church on the Jordan River shows the “vitality of the Christian community”.
Amman (AsiaNews) – “The weapons the Holy See has to promote peace are not the economy or military force, but dialogue and mutual exchange. I believe this is extremely fruitful in relations with Jordan,” said Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, 60, apostolic nuncio to Jordan (and Cyprus).
We met him at the apostolic nunciature, on the western outskirts of Amman. Installed in 2023, he has experienced the Gaza crisis from the start, in the country that has become a hub of humanitarian aid, which is "constantly flowing” to the enclave, even before 7 October, as evidenced by the work of Caritas Jordan.
“What happens on the other side of the Jordan can also be felt here. The role of the nunciature is to mediate and encourage these actions,” he explained.
The suffering across the Jordan River goes back 76 years with the exodus of the Palestinians, coming in waves like in 1948 and 1967. The same goes for the solidarity.
"The Jordanian government is trying to keep this conflict contained and find a solution, together with other Arab countries,” Archbishop Dal Toso said.
The conference “Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza” was held in Jordan after months of inhumane attacks, which killed 50,000 Palestinians, according to the latest figures released by Hamas.
Jointly organised by Jordan, Egypt and the UN, the conference was an important moment for international diplomatic coordination.
“Jordan is trying not only to mediate, but also to promote real help to the Palestinians," he added. During his visit in 2014, Pope Francis described King Abdullah II as a "man of peace, a peacemaker".
Peace must be constantly nurtured, because it is fragile, and must never be taken for granted. The recent break in the truce between Israel and Hamas, with renewed airstrikes in Gaza, shows that peace “is not a package that reproduces itself.”
“Peace is the fruit of the search for peace by men and women. For this reason, the pope makes constant appeals to national leaders. it comes from a political effort by rulers.” Jordan is an example of this, as it seeks “paths of reconciliation”.
The Hashemite kingdom maintains its stability despite a turbulent Middle East, with neighbouring countries burdened by many conflicts. This, combined with huge international aid, has made it possible to host millions of refugees.
For the prelate, “In the depths of the human heart there is the desire to live in peace with others. It is the responsibility of those who govern to listen to this desire that rises from peoples.”
On the possibility of Gazans moving to Jordan, “The position of the Holy See is clear. It is not a plan that can be realised; forced deportation violates international law,” he stressed.
The apostolic nunciature in Jordan was established in 1994. In March 2024, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States and International Organizations, visited the country to mark 30 years of diplomatic relations.
“On that occasion the pope also made a donation to Caritas Jordan, to support its work in favour of Gaza,” but “exchange, dialogue and mutual knowledge” are also promoted through “cultural diplomacy.”
The visit of Card Pietro Parolin last January – hosted at the nunciature in Amman for the inauguration of the new Latin church in the Jordanian site of the Baptism of Al-Maghtas – had "a very strong echo, not only from an ecclesial point of view," Dal Toso said.
The meeting with King Abdullah II, which was also attended by Card Pizzaballa, was an opportunity, Jordanian sources said, to reiterate "strong ties" and the "need to stop Israel’s war”.
A pressing issue Jordan is facing right now is the return of Syrian refugees. At least 50,000 out of over a million have left for Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime on 8 December.
“Many, cautiously, want to return. The same thing is true in Cyprus. Returning means longing for a certain normality, even if it is now difficult,” he said.
In fact, the political, economic and social situation in Syria remains uncertain. Cautious return “does not mean that the refugee emergency in Jordan is over. According to UNHCR estimates, assistance to Syrian refugees is even vastly underfunded compared to the needs,” the archbishop explained.
Sent to Aleppo by Pope Francis, he visited Syria in 2017 and on subsequent occasions. "In the last phase before President Assad’s fall, I saw very deep, widespread poverty. I was very struck by our Catholic organisations paying for the purchase of medicines, above all,” he noted.
Last February, Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Jordan to boost ties between the two countries. King Abdullah II reiterated his support for the "reconstruction" of Syria "guaranteeing unity, security and stability. We are neighbours, so there is a need for mutual help," the nuncio explained.
Last December, Aqaba hosted an international meeting to show Arab support for Syria's political transition. "It is clear that Jordan has an interest in promoting peace.”
Finally, the nunciature naturally “constantly interacts” with the local Church. “The meaning of the nuncio's presence is not to impose the Holy See’s line, but to be available.”
Archbishop Dal Toso said that the relationship with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem is firm, not only regarding aid to Gaza. Bishop Iyad Twal represents the Patriarchate in Jordan; he was ordained last month in the new Latin church, on the border with the West Bank.
“On the Jordanian site of the Baptism, there is a genius loci: a very special presence of grace," the nuncio said. “For Jordan’s Christian community (about 2 per cent of the population), it is an important place because it touches the very life of Christ.” It “shows the vitality of this Christian community,” which meets here and in other Christian sites in the country, enjoying a “strong moment of identification.”
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25/09/2021 10:15
